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鈥Ｙ呚迟娯� 毓賳丿 賰賱賷乇 (鬲乇噩賲丕鬲 丕賱賰乇賲丞)鈥�
芦乇賵丕賷丞 氐賽賷睾鬲 亘亘乇丕毓丞... 鬲爻鬲丨賯 - 亘賱 鬲鬲胤賱亘 - 丕賴鬲賲丕賲賸丕 賲鬲噩丿丿賸丕禄 - 賱賵爻 兀賳噩賱賵爻 乇賷賮賷賵 兀賵賮 亘賵賰爻
芦兀毓賲丕賱 噩丕夭丿丕賳賵賮 賴賷 丕賱賲夭噩 丕賱賲孬丕賱賷 亘賷賳 丕賱鬲賯丕賱賷丿 丕賱乇賵爻賷丞 賵丕賱鬲噩丿賷丿 丕賱賮乇賳爻賷禄 - 賱賳丿賳 乇賷賮賷賵 兀賵賮 亘賵賰爻
芦乇賵丕賷丞 爻鬲馗賱 賲毓賰 廿賱賶 亘賯賷丞 丨賷丕鬲賰禄 - 丕賱噩丕乇丿賷丕賳
芦毓賲賱 兀丿亘賷 爻丕丨乇禄 - 兀賳鬲賵賳賷 亘賷賮乇
賳亘匕丞
賰丕賳 賳賷賰賵賱丕賷 賮賷 丕賱爻丕丿爻丞 毓卮乇丞 賲賳 毓賲乇賴 毓賳丿賲丕 丕賳囟賲 廿賱賶 丕賱噩賷卮 丕賱兀亘賷囟 賮賷 丕賱丨乇亘 丕賱兀賴賱賷丞 丕賱乇賵爻賷丞貙 賲丕 丕囟胤乇賴 賱丕丨賯賸丕 廿賱賶 丕賱賮乇丕乇 賲賳 亘賱丿賴 毓賳丿賲丕 賴購夭賲 丕賱亘賷囟. 亘毓丿 賮鬲乇丞 賲賳 丕賱鬲卮乇丿 賵丕賱鬲噩賵丕賱 賷氐賱 賳賷賰賵賱丕賷 廿賱賶 亘丕乇賷爻貙 丨賷孬 賷賱鬲賯賷 丕賱賮乇賳爻賷丞 丕賱賮丕鬲賳丞 賰賱賷乇 丕賱鬲賷 賰丕賳 賯丿 兀購睾乇賲 亘賴丕 賲賳匕 毓卮乇 爻賳賵丕鬲 賮賷 亘胤乇爻亘賵乇噩 賲丕 賯亘賱 丕賱孬賵乇丞.
賷夭賵乇 賳賷賰賵賱丕賷 賰賱賷乇 賰賱 賲爻丕亍 丌賲賱賸丕 兀賳 鬲亘丕丿賱賴 丕賱賲卮丕毓乇貙 賵賰賱 丨丿賷孬 亘賷賳賴賲丕 賷匕賰賽賾乇賴 亘胤賮賵賱鬲賴 賵賵丕賱丿賷賴 賵兀氐丿賯丕卅賴 賵丕賱丨乇亘 丕賱兀賴賱賷丞貙 賵賷睾賲乇賴
芦兀毓賲丕賱 噩丕夭丿丕賳賵賮 賴賷 丕賱賲夭噩 丕賱賲孬丕賱賷 亘賷賳 丕賱鬲賯丕賱賷丿 丕賱乇賵爻賷丞 賵丕賱鬲噩丿賷丿 丕賱賮乇賳爻賷禄 - 賱賳丿賳 乇賷賮賷賵 兀賵賮 亘賵賰爻
芦乇賵丕賷丞 爻鬲馗賱 賲毓賰 廿賱賶 亘賯賷丞 丨賷丕鬲賰禄 - 丕賱噩丕乇丿賷丕賳
芦毓賲賱 兀丿亘賷 爻丕丨乇禄 - 兀賳鬲賵賳賷 亘賷賮乇
賳亘匕丞
賰丕賳 賳賷賰賵賱丕賷 賮賷 丕賱爻丕丿爻丞 毓卮乇丞 賲賳 毓賲乇賴 毓賳丿賲丕 丕賳囟賲 廿賱賶 丕賱噩賷卮 丕賱兀亘賷囟 賮賷 丕賱丨乇亘 丕賱兀賴賱賷丞 丕賱乇賵爻賷丞貙 賲丕 丕囟胤乇賴 賱丕丨賯賸丕 廿賱賶 丕賱賮乇丕乇 賲賳 亘賱丿賴 毓賳丿賲丕 賴購夭賲 丕賱亘賷囟. 亘毓丿 賮鬲乇丞 賲賳 丕賱鬲卮乇丿 賵丕賱鬲噩賵丕賱 賷氐賱 賳賷賰賵賱丕賷 廿賱賶 亘丕乇賷爻貙 丨賷孬 賷賱鬲賯賷 丕賱賮乇賳爻賷丞 丕賱賮丕鬲賳丞 賰賱賷乇 丕賱鬲賷 賰丕賳 賯丿 兀購睾乇賲 亘賴丕 賲賳匕 毓卮乇 爻賳賵丕鬲 賮賷 亘胤乇爻亘賵乇噩 賲丕 賯亘賱 丕賱孬賵乇丞.
賷夭賵乇 賳賷賰賵賱丕賷 賰賱賷乇 賰賱 賲爻丕亍 丌賲賱賸丕 兀賳 鬲亘丕丿賱賴 丕賱賲卮丕毓乇貙 賵賰賱 丨丿賷孬 亘賷賳賴賲丕 賷匕賰賽賾乇賴 亘胤賮賵賱鬲賴 賵賵丕賱丿賷賴 賵兀氐丿賯丕卅賴 賵丕賱丨乇亘 丕賱兀賴賱賷丞貙 賵賷睾賲乇賴
124 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1930
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1,339 people want to read
About the author
Gaito Gazdanov
38听books153听followersGaito Gazdanov (Russian: 袚邪泄褌芯 袚邪蟹写邪薪芯胁; Ossetian: 袚忙蟹写忙薪褌褘 袘忙锌锌懈泄褘 褎褘褉褌 袚邪泄褌芯) (1903鈥�1971) was a Russian 茅migr茅 writer of Ossetian extraction. He was born in Saint Petersburg but was brought up in Siberia and Ukraine, where his father worked as a forester. He took part in the Russian Civil War on the side of Wrangel's White Army. In 1920 he left Russia and settled in Paris, where he was employed in the Renault factories. Gazdanov's first novel 鈥� An Evening with Claire (1930) 鈥� won accolades from Maxim Gorky and Vladislav Khodasevich, who noted his indebtedness to Marcel Proust. On the strength of his first short stories, Gazdanov was decried by critics as one of the most gifted writers to begin his career in emigration.
Gazdanov's mature work was produced after World War II. His mastery of criminal plots and understanding of psychological detail are in full evidence in his two most popular novels, The Specter of Alexander Wolf and The Return of the Buddha, whose English translations appeared in 1950 and 1951. The writer "excels in creating characters and plots in which cynicism and despair remain in precarious yet convincing balance with a courageous acceptance of life and even a certain joie de vivre." In 1953, Gazdanov joined the Radio Liberty, where he hosted a program about Russian literature until his death.
Gazdanov's mature work was produced after World War II. His mastery of criminal plots and understanding of psychological detail are in full evidence in his two most popular novels, The Specter of Alexander Wolf and The Return of the Buddha, whose English translations appeared in 1950 and 1951. The writer "excels in creating characters and plots in which cynicism and despair remain in precarious yet convincing balance with a courageous acceptance of life and even a certain joie de vivre." In 1953, Gazdanov joined the Radio Liberty, where he hosted a program about Russian literature until his death.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
November 29, 2020
An Evening with Claire is a story of nostalgic love and the story is no less nostalgic than that nostalgic love鈥�
An Evening with Claire is a recollection of childhood and adolescence, parents and homeland, growing up and falling in love, war and flight鈥�
In exile, even the recollections of happiness are sad because it is a memory of the lost world.
After glancing back at the Seine a final time I would go up to my room, lie down, and instantly sink into the profound gloom; strange forms stirred within this gloom which sometimes had no time to form into familiar images before my eyes and would vanish, having never materialized; and in my sleep I would regret their disappearance, sympathize with their imaginary and incomprehensible sorrows, and I lived and dozed in this ineffable state which I could never recapture while awake. This should have distressed me but in the morning I would completely forget about what I had seen in my sleep, and the last memory of the previous day would be that I had once again missed the train. In the evening I鈥檇 set off again for Claire鈥檚.
An Evening with Claire is a recollection of childhood and adolescence, parents and homeland, growing up and falling in love, war and flight鈥�
These first, carefree years of life at the gymnasium were only rarely aggravated by those emotional crises from which I suffered so greatly but in which I nonetheless found an agonizing satisfaction. I lived happily 鈥� if one can live happily when a persistent shadow floats behind one鈥檚 shoulders. Death was never far away, and the abyss into which my imagination plunged me seemed to belong to it.
In exile, even the recollections of happiness are sad because it is a memory of the lost world.
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January 19, 2019危委纬慰蠀蟻伪 蔚谓未喂伪蠁苇蟻慰谓 尾喂尾位委慰, 蠈蠂喂 蠈蟽慰 蟿慰 蠁维谓蟿伪蟽渭伪 蠈渭蠅蟼. 螜未喂伪委蟿蔚蟻慰蟼 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪蟼 慰 螕魏伪味谓蟿维谓慰蠁 魏伪喂 胃伪 未喂维尾伪味伪 蔚蠀蠂维蟻喂蟽蟿伪 蠈蟿喂 维位位慰 未喂魏蠈 蟿慰蠀 胃伪 渭蔚蟿伪蠁蟻伪蟽蟿蔚委.
June 23, 2022
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: While there is some lovely language in this short read, I did not end up thinking it was Deathless Prose.
High school's like that. The highs are empyrean; the lows abyssal. Claire gets a whole lot fewer lines than an evening should hold. I was reminded of the Doobie Brothers' 1977 hit song, which covers the same territory in three minutes, forty-seven seconds.
Blasphemy to the literary, I know, but really I'll listen to the song again (and it was never one of my favorites) before I'll re-read this history lesson with straight-boy crush object posed in front of it. The entire Russian Civil War鈥攐ne of history's major social paroxysms!鈥攖ook place with a sleepwalking Kolya (Claire's fanboy) apparently numb to it. But of course he is...he is superior to the victims. (Where he got that idea, and what it's based on, must've been in a part of the read I didn't get in my DRC.) So, Claire of the title barely shows her face; the narrator's a numbed-out zombie or a sociopathic prick; and the story's too long for the r茅cit it could've quite successfully been and too detached to work as a novel.
I'll see myself out.
My Review: While there is some lovely language in this short read, I did not end up thinking it was Deathless Prose.
These first, carefree years of life at the gymnasium were only rarely aggravated by those emotional crises from which I suffered so greatly but in which I nonetheless found an agonizing satisfaction. I lived happily鈥攊f one can live happily when a persistent shadow floats behind one鈥檚 shoulders. Death was never far away, and the abyss into which my imagination plunged me seemed to belong to it.
High school's like that. The highs are empyrean; the lows abyssal. Claire gets a whole lot fewer lines than an evening should hold. I was reminded of the Doobie Brothers' 1977 hit song, which covers the same territory in three minutes, forty-seven seconds.
Blasphemy to the literary, I know, but really I'll listen to the song again (and it was never one of my favorites) before I'll re-read this history lesson with straight-boy crush object posed in front of it. The entire Russian Civil War鈥攐ne of history's major social paroxysms!鈥攖ook place with a sleepwalking Kolya (Claire's fanboy) apparently numb to it. But of course he is...he is superior to the victims. (Where he got that idea, and what it's based on, must've been in a part of the read I didn't get in my DRC.) So, Claire of the title barely shows her face; the narrator's a numbed-out zombie or a sociopathic prick; and the story's too long for the r茅cit it could've quite successfully been and too detached to work as a novel.
I'll see myself out.
March 2, 2019
螒谓伪位蠀蟿喂魏维 畏 维蟺慰蠄萎 渭慰蠀 纬喂伪 蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 .
螒谓 畏 渭谓萎渭畏 蔚委谓伪喂 蟿慰 蔚蟻渭维蟻喂慰 蠈位蠅谓 蟿蠅谓 蟺蟻伪纬渭维蟿蠅谓 蠈蟺蠅蟼 苇位蔚纬蔚 慰 螝喂魏苇蟻蠅谓, 蟿蠈蟿蔚 蟽蟿慰 螠喂伪 尾蟻伪未喂维 渭蔚 蟿畏谓 螝位伪喂蟻 畏 渭谓萎渭畏 未蔚谓 蟺伪蟻苇蠂蔚喂 魏伪蟿慰喂魏委伪 渭蠈谓慰 蟽蟿伪 伪喂蟽胃畏蟿畏蟻喂伪魏维 伪蟺慰蟿蠀蟺蠋渭伪蟿伪 蟺慰蠀 伪蠁萎谓蔚喂 蟿慰 蟺苇蟻伪蟽渭伪 蟿畏蟼 味蠅萎蟼 蟽蟿慰谓 维谓胃蟻蠅蟺慰, 伪位位维 蟽蟿蔚纬维味蔚喂 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 委未喂伪 蟿慰蠀 蟿畏谓 蠉蟺伪蟻尉畏, 萎 魏伪位蠉蟿蔚蟻伪, 蟿畏 未蠀谓伪蟿蠈蟿畏蟿伪 谓伪 蔚蟺喂蟽蟿蟻苇蠁蔚喂 魏伪谓蔚委蟼 蟽蔚 伪蠀蟿萎 魏伪蟿维 尾慰蠉位畏蟽畏.
螚 蟺伪蟻伪蟿蔚蟿伪渭苇谓畏 蔚蟺委蟽魏蔚蠄畏 蟽蟿慰 渭谓畏渭慰谓喂魏蠈 伪蟺蠈胃蔚渭伪 蟿慰蠀 蟺蟻蠅蟿伪纬蠅谓喂蟽蟿萎, 伪蟺蠈 蟿伪 蟺伪喂未喂魏维 蠂蟻蠈谓喂伪 魏伪喂 蟿畏 危蟿蟻伪蟿喂蠅蟿喂魏萎 危蠂慰位萎 蠈蟺慰蠀 渭伪胃萎蟿蔚蠀蟽蔚 渭苇蠂蟻喂 魏伪喂 蟿慰谓 蟺蠈位蔚渭慰, 伪蟺慰蟿蔚位蔚委 伪蟺蠈 渭蠈谓畏 蟿畏蟼 渭喂伪 蟺蟻维尉畏 蟺慰蠀 蟿慰谓 未喂伪蠂蠅蟻委味蔚喂 伪蟺蠈 蟿伪 胃畏蟻委伪, 蟿畏蟼 慰蟺慰委伪蟼 蟿慰 谓蠈畏渭伪 蟺畏纬伪委谓蔚喂 尾伪胃蠉蟿蔚蟻伪 伪蟺鈥� 蠈蟽慰 蠀蟺慰胃苇蟿慰蠀渭蔚. 螣 螝蠈位喂伪, 尾伪蟽伪谓喂蟽渭苇谓慰蟼 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰 蠀未伪蟻苇蟼 蟿慰蟺委慰 蟺慰蠀 伪蟺慰魏蟻蠀蟽蟿伪位位蠋谓蔚蟿伪喂 渭苇蟽伪 蟿慰蠀, 尾蟻委蟽魏蔚喂 蟽蟿畏谓 伪谓维魏位畏蟽畏 蟿蠅谓 纬蔚纬慰谓蠈蟿蠅谓 苇谓伪 魏苇谓蟿蟻慰 纬蠉蟻蠅 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰 慰蟺慰委慰 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 谓伪 蟺蔚蟻喂纬蟻维蠄蔚喂 蟿畏 味蠅萎 魏伪喂 蟿慰谓 蔚伪蠀蟿蠈 蟿慰蠀.
螣 螕魏伪味谓蟿维谓慰蠁, 渭蔚 蟿畏谓 伪蟺慰蟽蟿伪蟽喂慰蟺慰喂畏渭苇谓畏 魏伪喂 谓畏蠁维位喂伪 伪蠁萎纬畏蟽畏 蟿慰蠀 螝蠈位喂伪, 蔚蟺喂位苇纬蔚喂 谓伪 蟿渭萎蟽蔚喂 伪谓胃蟻蠅蟺蠈蟿蠀蟺慰蠀蟼, 蠈蠂喂 伪蟺位蠋蟼 渭蔚渭慰谓蠅渭苇谓伪 维蟿慰渭伪. 螝伪胃蠋蟼 畏 伪魏蟻委尾蔚喂维 蟿慰蠀 蠁蟿维谓蔚喂 渭苇蠂蟻喂 蟿慰 魏蠈魏伪位慰, 未喂伪谓慰委纬慰谓蟿伪蟼 蟿畏谓 魏伪蟿伪谓蠈畏蟽萎 渭伪蟼 纬喂伪 蟿畏谓 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺喂谓畏 蠄蠀蠂萎 蟽蟿伪 渭蔚纬伪位慰蟺蟻蔚蟺萎 蟺位维蟿畏 蟿畏蟼 蟻蠅蟽喂魏萎蟼 蟽蟿苇蟺伪蟼, 慰喂 维谓胃蟻蠅蟺慰喂 蠁蠅蟿委味慰谓蟿伪喂 慰位慰魏维胃伪蟻伪 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 伪蟺伪蟽蟿蟻维蟺蟿慰蠀蟽伪 蟺蟻蠈味伪 蟿慰蠀. 螌位伪 蟿伪 蟽蟿慰喂蠂蔚委伪 蟺慰蠀 蟽蟿慰 桅维谓蟿伪蟽渭伪 蟿慰蠀 螒位蔚尉维谓蟿蟻 螔慰位蠁 位伪渭蟺慰魏慰蟺慰蠉谓 蟽伪谓 蟽蟿伪位伪魏蟿委蟿蔚蟼 渭苇蟽伪 蟽蟿慰 蠂喂蠈谓喂, 魏维谓慰蠀谓 蟿慰 谓蟿蔚渭蟺慰蠉蟿慰 蟿慰蠀蟼 蟽蔚 伪蠀蟿蠈 蟿慰 渭蠀胃喂蟽蟿蠈蟻畏渭伪.
螣 螕魏伪蠆蟿蠈 螕魏伪味谓蟿维谓慰蠁, 蟿慰蠀 慰蟺慰委慰蠀 蟿慰 苇蟻纬慰, 苇蟽蟿蠅 魏伪喂 魏伪胃蠀蟽蟿蔚蟻畏渭苇谓伪 蔚蠀蟿蠀蠂萎蟽伪渭蔚 谓伪 伪谓伪魏伪位蠉蠄慰蠀渭蔚 渭苇蟽伪 伪蟺鈥� 蟿喂蟼 蔚尉伪委蟽喂蔚蟼 渭蔚蟿伪蠁蟻维蟽蔚喂蟼 蟿畏蟼 螘位苇谓畏蟼 螠蟺伪魏慰蟺慰蠉位慰蠀, 未喂蔚魏未喂魏蔚委 蔚蟺维尉喂伪 渭喂伪 魏慰蟻蠀蠁伪委伪 胃苇蟽畏 伪谓维渭蔚蟽伪 蟽蟿慰蠀蟼 渭蔚纬维位慰蠀蟼 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁蔚委蟼 蟿畏蟼 蟻蠅蟽喂魏萎蟼 位慰纬慰蟿蔚蠂谓委伪蟼 蟿慰蠀 伪喂蠋谓伪 蟺慰蠀 渭维蟼 蟺苇蟻伪蟽蔚.
螒谓 畏 渭谓萎渭畏 蔚委谓伪喂 蟿慰 蔚蟻渭维蟻喂慰 蠈位蠅谓 蟿蠅谓 蟺蟻伪纬渭维蟿蠅谓 蠈蟺蠅蟼 苇位蔚纬蔚 慰 螝喂魏苇蟻蠅谓, 蟿蠈蟿蔚 蟽蟿慰 螠喂伪 尾蟻伪未喂维 渭蔚 蟿畏谓 螝位伪喂蟻 畏 渭谓萎渭畏 未蔚谓 蟺伪蟻苇蠂蔚喂 魏伪蟿慰喂魏委伪 渭蠈谓慰 蟽蟿伪 伪喂蟽胃畏蟿畏蟻喂伪魏维 伪蟺慰蟿蠀蟺蠋渭伪蟿伪 蟺慰蠀 伪蠁萎谓蔚喂 蟿慰 蟺苇蟻伪蟽渭伪 蟿畏蟼 味蠅萎蟼 蟽蟿慰谓 维谓胃蟻蠅蟺慰, 伪位位维 蟽蟿蔚纬维味蔚喂 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 委未喂伪 蟿慰蠀 蟿畏谓 蠉蟺伪蟻尉畏, 萎 魏伪位蠉蟿蔚蟻伪, 蟿畏 未蠀谓伪蟿蠈蟿畏蟿伪 谓伪 蔚蟺喂蟽蟿蟻苇蠁蔚喂 魏伪谓蔚委蟼 蟽蔚 伪蠀蟿萎 魏伪蟿维 尾慰蠉位畏蟽畏.
螚 蟺伪蟻伪蟿蔚蟿伪渭苇谓畏 蔚蟺委蟽魏蔚蠄畏 蟽蟿慰 渭谓畏渭慰谓喂魏蠈 伪蟺蠈胃蔚渭伪 蟿慰蠀 蟺蟻蠅蟿伪纬蠅谓喂蟽蟿萎, 伪蟺蠈 蟿伪 蟺伪喂未喂魏维 蠂蟻蠈谓喂伪 魏伪喂 蟿畏 危蟿蟻伪蟿喂蠅蟿喂魏萎 危蠂慰位萎 蠈蟺慰蠀 渭伪胃萎蟿蔚蠀蟽蔚 渭苇蠂蟻喂 魏伪喂 蟿慰谓 蟺蠈位蔚渭慰, 伪蟺慰蟿蔚位蔚委 伪蟺蠈 渭蠈谓畏 蟿畏蟼 渭喂伪 蟺蟻维尉畏 蟺慰蠀 蟿慰谓 未喂伪蠂蠅蟻委味蔚喂 伪蟺蠈 蟿伪 胃畏蟻委伪, 蟿畏蟼 慰蟺慰委伪蟼 蟿慰 谓蠈畏渭伪 蟺畏纬伪委谓蔚喂 尾伪胃蠉蟿蔚蟻伪 伪蟺鈥� 蠈蟽慰 蠀蟺慰胃苇蟿慰蠀渭蔚. 螣 螝蠈位喂伪, 尾伪蟽伪谓喂蟽渭苇谓慰蟼 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰 蠀未伪蟻苇蟼 蟿慰蟺委慰 蟺慰蠀 伪蟺慰魏蟻蠀蟽蟿伪位位蠋谓蔚蟿伪喂 渭苇蟽伪 蟿慰蠀, 尾蟻委蟽魏蔚喂 蟽蟿畏谓 伪谓维魏位畏蟽畏 蟿蠅谓 纬蔚纬慰谓蠈蟿蠅谓 苇谓伪 魏苇谓蟿蟻慰 纬蠉蟻蠅 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰 慰蟺慰委慰 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 谓伪 蟺蔚蟻喂纬蟻维蠄蔚喂 蟿畏 味蠅萎 魏伪喂 蟿慰谓 蔚伪蠀蟿蠈 蟿慰蠀.
螣 螕魏伪味谓蟿维谓慰蠁, 渭蔚 蟿畏谓 伪蟺慰蟽蟿伪蟽喂慰蟺慰喂畏渭苇谓畏 魏伪喂 谓畏蠁维位喂伪 伪蠁萎纬畏蟽畏 蟿慰蠀 螝蠈位喂伪, 蔚蟺喂位苇纬蔚喂 谓伪 蟿渭萎蟽蔚喂 伪谓胃蟻蠅蟺蠈蟿蠀蟺慰蠀蟼, 蠈蠂喂 伪蟺位蠋蟼 渭蔚渭慰谓蠅渭苇谓伪 维蟿慰渭伪. 螝伪胃蠋蟼 畏 伪魏蟻委尾蔚喂维 蟿慰蠀 蠁蟿维谓蔚喂 渭苇蠂蟻喂 蟿慰 魏蠈魏伪位慰, 未喂伪谓慰委纬慰谓蟿伪蟼 蟿畏谓 魏伪蟿伪谓蠈畏蟽萎 渭伪蟼 纬喂伪 蟿畏谓 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺喂谓畏 蠄蠀蠂萎 蟽蟿伪 渭蔚纬伪位慰蟺蟻蔚蟺萎 蟺位维蟿畏 蟿畏蟼 蟻蠅蟽喂魏萎蟼 蟽蟿苇蟺伪蟼, 慰喂 维谓胃蟻蠅蟺慰喂 蠁蠅蟿委味慰谓蟿伪喂 慰位慰魏维胃伪蟻伪 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 伪蟺伪蟽蟿蟻维蟺蟿慰蠀蟽伪 蟺蟻蠈味伪 蟿慰蠀. 螌位伪 蟿伪 蟽蟿慰喂蠂蔚委伪 蟺慰蠀 蟽蟿慰 桅维谓蟿伪蟽渭伪 蟿慰蠀 螒位蔚尉维谓蟿蟻 螔慰位蠁 位伪渭蟺慰魏慰蟺慰蠉谓 蟽伪谓 蟽蟿伪位伪魏蟿委蟿蔚蟼 渭苇蟽伪 蟽蟿慰 蠂喂蠈谓喂, 魏维谓慰蠀谓 蟿慰 谓蟿蔚渭蟺慰蠉蟿慰 蟿慰蠀蟼 蟽蔚 伪蠀蟿蠈 蟿慰 渭蠀胃喂蟽蟿蠈蟻畏渭伪.
螣 螕魏伪蠆蟿蠈 螕魏伪味谓蟿维谓慰蠁, 蟿慰蠀 慰蟺慰委慰蠀 蟿慰 苇蟻纬慰, 苇蟽蟿蠅 魏伪喂 魏伪胃蠀蟽蟿蔚蟻畏渭苇谓伪 蔚蠀蟿蠀蠂萎蟽伪渭蔚 谓伪 伪谓伪魏伪位蠉蠄慰蠀渭蔚 渭苇蟽伪 伪蟺鈥� 蟿喂蟼 蔚尉伪委蟽喂蔚蟼 渭蔚蟿伪蠁蟻维蟽蔚喂蟼 蟿畏蟼 螘位苇谓畏蟼 螠蟺伪魏慰蟺慰蠉位慰蠀, 未喂蔚魏未喂魏蔚委 蔚蟺维尉喂伪 渭喂伪 魏慰蟻蠀蠁伪委伪 胃苇蟽畏 伪谓维渭蔚蟽伪 蟽蟿慰蠀蟼 渭蔚纬维位慰蠀蟼 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁蔚委蟼 蟿畏蟼 蟻蠅蟽喂魏萎蟼 位慰纬慰蟿蔚蠂谓委伪蟼 蟿慰蠀 伪喂蠋谓伪 蟺慰蠀 渭维蟼 蟺苇蟻伪蟽蔚.
March 21, 2024
袣芯谐邪褌芯 锌邪屑械褌褌邪 褋械 锌谢褗蟹薪械 薪邪谐芯褉械 褋褉械褖褍 褌械褔械薪懈械褌芯 薪邪 胁褉械屑械褌芯, 褋 胁褋褟泻邪 薪械褍褋械褌薪邪 泻褉邪褔泻邪 薪邪蟹邪写 褌褟 蟹邪锌芯褔胁邪 写邪 褋械 褋褗械写懈薪褟胁邪 胁褋械 锌芯-谐谢邪写泻芯 泻褗褋 锌芯 泻褗褋. 袠 械写薪邪 鈥溞捫笛囆笛€ 锌褉懈 袣谢械褉鈥� 锌芯胁写懈谐邪 蟹邪 屑懈谐 蟹邪胁械褋邪褌邪 芯褌 褋锌邪褋懈褌械谢薪芯 芯褌褔褍卸写械薪懈械 懈 锌褉械胁褉褗褖邪 褋械薪泻懈褌械 薪邪 褋褗蟹薪邪薪懈械褌芯, 锌褉械泻芯褋懈谢懈 写械褌褋褌胁芯, 袣邪胁泻邪蟹 懈 谐褉邪卸写邪薪褋泻邪 胁芯泄薪邪 薪械写芯泻芯褋薪邪褌懈, 胁褗胁 胁械褔械 懈褋褌懈薪褋泻懈 懈 芯泻芯薪褔邪褌械谢械薪 褋锌芯屑械薪.
鈥斺赌�
孝芯胁邪 械 锌褗褉胁懈褟褌 褉芯屑邪薪 薪邪 袚邪泄褌芯 袚邪蟹写邪薪芯胁, 斜懈谢 械 褋邪屑芯 薪邪 25! 袧芯 斜懈写械泄泻懈 谐械褉芯泄 薪邪 胁褋械泻懈 械写懈薪 芯褌 褉芯屑邪薪懈褌械 褋懈, 胁械褔械 械 斜懈谢 懈蟹卸懈胁褟谢 薪褟泻芯谢泻芯 褉邪蟹谢懈褔薪懈 卸懈胁芯褌邪, 邪 褋邪 屑褍 锌褉械写褋褌芯褟谢懈 芯褖械 屑薪芯谐芯.
鈥斺赌�
袗 械褌芯 泻邪泻 械 懈蟹谐谢械卸写邪谢 斜褉芯薪懈褉邪薪 胁谢邪泻 泻邪褌芯 褌芯蟹懈 芯褌 褉芯屑邪薪邪:
4,5猸愶笍
***
鈥澬⑿� 褋懈 屑懈褋谢褟褌, 褔械 邪泻芯 懈屑邪褕 薪械胁褟褉薪邪 锌褉械写褋褌邪胁邪 蟹邪 褉褍褋泻邪褌邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟 泻邪褌芯 蟹邪 褋屑褟薪邪 薪邪 写芯斜褉芯写械褌械谢薪懈 懈 褍屑薪懈 屑芯薪邪褉褋懈, 械 写芯斜褉械. 袙褋褗褖薪芯褋褌 褌懈 懈蟹褍褔邪胁邪褕 薪褟泻邪泻胁邪 褋邪薪褌懈屑械薪褌邪谢薪邪 屑懈褌芯谢芯谐懈褟, 褋 泻芯褟褌芯 褌械 蟹邪屑械薪褟褌 懈褋褌芯褉懈褔械褋泻邪褌邪 写械泄褋褌胁懈褌械谢薪芯褋褌. 袧芯 胁 褉械蟹褍谢褌邪褌 薪邪 褌芯胁邪 褕械 懈蟹谢械蟹械褕 谐谢褍锌邪泻. 袙锌褉芯褔械屑 褌懈 懈 斜械蟹 褌芯胁邪 褖械 褋械 芯泻邪卸械褕 谐谢褍锌邪泻, 写芯褉懈 写邪 蟹薪邪械褕 懈褋褌懈薪褋泻邪褌邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟.
- 袧械锌褉械屑械薪薪芯 谢懈 褖械 褋械 芯泻邪卸邪 谐谢褍锌邪泻?
- 袧械锌褉械屑械薪薪芯. 袙褋懈褔泻懈 褋械 芯泻邪蟹胁邪褌 谐谢褍锌邪褑懈.
摆鈥
- 袧芯 泻邪泻胁芯 写邪 褋械 锌褉邪胁懈?
- 袛邪 斜褗写械褕 薪械谐芯写薪懈泻.鈥�
September 9, 2021
An Evening with Claire was Gaito Gazdanov鈥檚 first novel, published in France in 1930. Gazdanov was one of the 鈥渦nnoticed generation,鈥� marginalised, rootless, younger writers who fled Russia in the years following revolution and brutal civil war. He washed up in Paris in the early 1920s where, after a string of lean years, driving a taxi gave him time to write. Gazdanov鈥檚 debut鈥檚 an intricate, semi-autobiographical piece briefly posing as a classic tale of unrequited love and desire. Desire plays a part here but it鈥檚 a desire for place and something else, something yearned for, almost intangible, that can only be accessed through memory. The central character Kolya鈥檚 a young Russian living in Paris, he鈥檚 adrift and isolated, apparently obsessed with Claire, a married woman, and his long-lost, first love. But Claire鈥檚 a near-mythic figure for Kolya, a potent symbol of the past. Her active role here鈥檚 a minor one, a catalyst for the flood of recollections to come.
The bulk of Gazdanov鈥檚 narrative鈥檚 a vivid recreation of Kolya鈥檚 history: a settled childhood in a cultured, middle-class family ruptured by his father鈥檚 early death; unruly, challenging school years; a growing sense of alienation; and the unexpected decision to fight in the Russian Civil War, when he was barely sixteen years old. It鈥檚 a beautifully-constructed story, atmospheric and compelling. A series of impressionistic snapshots, filled with striking images and anecdotes, that demonstrate why Gazdanov was sometimes dubbed the Russian Proust. Although Gazdanov hadn鈥檛 actually read Proust, and his writing features a decidedly hard-edged element that Proust鈥檚 lacks.
The scenes of Kolya鈥檚 childhood have a wonderful, fairy-tale quality but I was most impressed by the episodes set during the Civil War. The deeply self-analytical Kolya鈥檚 representation of wartime veered between introspective, understated observations and meticulously-drawn vignettes centred on his fellow soldiers. There are jolts of absurd or bleak humour in his depiction of army life, interspersed with lyrical descriptions of landscapes and wildlife that highlight the strangeness, the uncanny aspect of war. Gazdanov makes it clear that war can shatter everything around it, but shows how easily it can also become mundane - experiences of violence and death too commonplace to question. The emphasis throughout鈥檚 very much on Kolya鈥檚 perceptions and encounters, there鈥檚 little in the way of historical detail, perhaps because Gazdanov鈥檚 addressing readers who shared similar histories. It鈥檚 possible that may be challenging for anyone unfamiliar with the period but I think the sheer force of the writing makes up for the more elliptical content. Apparently Gazdanov鈥檚 work鈥檚 considered difficult to translate, I can鈥檛 comment on that, all I can say is I found Bryan Karetnyk鈥檚 recent translation fluid and convincing.
Thanks to Netgalley and Pushkin Press for the arc
The bulk of Gazdanov鈥檚 narrative鈥檚 a vivid recreation of Kolya鈥檚 history: a settled childhood in a cultured, middle-class family ruptured by his father鈥檚 early death; unruly, challenging school years; a growing sense of alienation; and the unexpected decision to fight in the Russian Civil War, when he was barely sixteen years old. It鈥檚 a beautifully-constructed story, atmospheric and compelling. A series of impressionistic snapshots, filled with striking images and anecdotes, that demonstrate why Gazdanov was sometimes dubbed the Russian Proust. Although Gazdanov hadn鈥檛 actually read Proust, and his writing features a decidedly hard-edged element that Proust鈥檚 lacks.
The scenes of Kolya鈥檚 childhood have a wonderful, fairy-tale quality but I was most impressed by the episodes set during the Civil War. The deeply self-analytical Kolya鈥檚 representation of wartime veered between introspective, understated observations and meticulously-drawn vignettes centred on his fellow soldiers. There are jolts of absurd or bleak humour in his depiction of army life, interspersed with lyrical descriptions of landscapes and wildlife that highlight the strangeness, the uncanny aspect of war. Gazdanov makes it clear that war can shatter everything around it, but shows how easily it can also become mundane - experiences of violence and death too commonplace to question. The emphasis throughout鈥檚 very much on Kolya鈥檚 perceptions and encounters, there鈥檚 little in the way of historical detail, perhaps because Gazdanov鈥檚 addressing readers who shared similar histories. It鈥檚 possible that may be challenging for anyone unfamiliar with the period but I think the sheer force of the writing makes up for the more elliptical content. Apparently Gazdanov鈥檚 work鈥檚 considered difficult to translate, I can鈥檛 comment on that, all I can say is I found Bryan Karetnyk鈥檚 recent translation fluid and convincing.
Thanks to Netgalley and Pushkin Press for the arc
August 16, 2019
螆谓伪 蟺蔚蟻委蔚蟻纬慰 尾喂尾位委慰, 渭蔚 蟺慰位位维 伪蠀蟿慰尾喂慰纬蟻伪蠁喂魏维 蟽蟿慰喂蠂蔚委伪, 蟺慰蠀 渭伪蟼 蟽蠀蟽蟿萎谓蔚喂 蟿慰谓 螕魏伪味谓蟿伪谓慰蠁 蟽蟿慰 蔚位位畏谓喂魏蠈 魏慰喂谓蠈 魏伪喂 蔚委谓伪喂 蟽委纬慰蠀蟻伪 蠀蟺慰蟽蠂蠈渭蔚谓慰. 螒位位维 魏伪蟿维蠁蔚蟻伪 谓伪 蟿慰 蟿蔚位蔚喂蠋蟽蠅 渭蔚 蟿畏谓 蟿蟻委蟿畏, 蟿喂蟼 蟺蟻蠋蟿蔚蟼 未蠉慰 蠁慰蟻苇蟼 蟺慰蠀 蟿慰 蟺蟻慰蟽蟺维胃畏蟽伪 未蔚谓 魏伪蟿维蠁蔚蟻伪 谓伪 蟺蔚蟻维蟽蠅 蟿喂蟼 蟺蟻蠋蟿蔚蟼 30 蟽蔚位委未蔚蟼, 胃蔚蟼 蟺慰蠀 渭喂位维蔚喂 蟺慰位蠉 慰 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪蟼, 胃蔚蟼 蟺慰蠀 蟽蔚 蟽蟿喂纬渭苇蟼 蟿慰谓 苇蠂伪谓伪, 未蔚谓 尉苇蟻蠅, 蟽委纬慰蠀蟻伪 未蔚谓 渭蟺萎魏伪 蟽蟿慰 谓蠈畏渭伪 蟺维谓蟿蠅蟼 谓蠅蟻委蟼.
违蟺萎蟻蠂伪谓 蟽畏渭蔚委伪 蟺慰蠀 渭慰蠀 蠁伪委谓慰谓蟿伪谓 蠁慰尾蔚蟻维 蔚谓未喂伪蠁苇蟻慰谓蟿伪 魏伪喂 蟽畏渭蔚委伪 蟺慰蠀 渭慰蠀 蠁维谓畏魏蔚 谓伪 蟺位伪蟿蔚喂维味蔚喂 蟽蔚 蟽畏渭蔚委慰 蟺慰蠀 谓伪 蟿慰 维蠁畏谓伪 尉伪谓维 魏伪蟿维 渭苇蟻慰蠀蟼. 螖蠀蟽蟿蠀蠂蠋蟼 蟿慰 蟿苇位慰蟼 纬喂伪 渭苇谓伪 伪谓萎魏蔚喂 蟽蟿伪 未蔚蠉蟿蔚蟻伪 蟽畏渭蔚委伪, 魏维蟿喂 蟺慰蠀 蟺蟻慰蟽蠅蟺喂魏维 未蔚谓 渭蔚 蔚蠀蠂伪蟻委蟽蟿畏蟽蔚. 危委纬慰蠀蟻伪 未蔚谓 魏伪蟿维位伪尾伪 魏伪位维 蟿慰谓 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪, 慰蟺蠈蟿蔚 伪谓 蟺慰蟿苇 蟺苇蟽蔚喂 魏维蟿喂 维位位慰 未喂魏蠈 蟿慰蠀 蟽蟿伪 蠂蔚蟻喂伪 渭慰蠀, 胃伪 蟿慰蠀 未蠋蟽蠅 蔚蠀魏伪喂蟻委伪.
违蟺萎蟻蠂伪谓 蟽畏渭蔚委伪 蟺慰蠀 渭慰蠀 蠁伪委谓慰谓蟿伪谓 蠁慰尾蔚蟻维 蔚谓未喂伪蠁苇蟻慰谓蟿伪 魏伪喂 蟽畏渭蔚委伪 蟺慰蠀 渭慰蠀 蠁维谓畏魏蔚 谓伪 蟺位伪蟿蔚喂维味蔚喂 蟽蔚 蟽畏渭蔚委慰 蟺慰蠀 谓伪 蟿慰 维蠁畏谓伪 尉伪谓维 魏伪蟿维 渭苇蟻慰蠀蟼. 螖蠀蟽蟿蠀蠂蠋蟼 蟿慰 蟿苇位慰蟼 纬喂伪 渭苇谓伪 伪谓萎魏蔚喂 蟽蟿伪 未蔚蠉蟿蔚蟻伪 蟽畏渭蔚委伪, 魏维蟿喂 蟺慰蠀 蟺蟻慰蟽蠅蟺喂魏维 未蔚谓 渭蔚 蔚蠀蠂伪蟻委蟽蟿畏蟽蔚. 危委纬慰蠀蟻伪 未蔚谓 魏伪蟿维位伪尾伪 魏伪位维 蟿慰谓 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪, 慰蟺蠈蟿蔚 伪谓 蟺慰蟿苇 蟺苇蟽蔚喂 魏维蟿喂 维位位慰 未喂魏蠈 蟿慰蠀 蟽蟿伪 蠂蔚蟻喂伪 渭慰蠀, 胃伪 蟿慰蠀 未蠋蟽蠅 蔚蠀魏伪喂蟻委伪.
February 4, 2021
The book is clearly autobiographical. At least it appears to be and I proceed with the review having this assumption in mind.
There are touching descriptions of the author's childhood, beautiful passages devoted to his parents, and an unusually detailed account of the inner word of the protagonist/author. This inner world is composed of daydreams and overlaps with fever induced nightmares creating a somewhat surreal effect. Life of the growing child is strongly anchored to his internal world to such an extent that external impressions and events have little effect on forming of his character. He goes through life more like a detached observer than an active participant. This detachment is most evident in the author's matter of fact account of the horrors of the Civil war. This part of the book is perhaps most effective thanks to the observer's point of view. Atrocities and terror find little emotional response in the protagonist submerged in his own internal underworld. This lack of emotions in the description of the bloody carnage serves as an amplification device for the reader.
While looking into the author's mind is an unusual privilege we get in this book, what we see down there is not that pretty. There are interesting ideas and concepts but only a few. The dominating impression is an unjustified feeling of superiority the protagonist feels towards other people with a few notable exceptions. His judgement based on his inner world's presumed richness and his reading experience serves him as a method to easily dismiss people around him as not worthy, inferior. The only people who avoid this kind of treatment are those who themselves have an air of superiority about them: the protagonist's mother, a cold blooded killer and a talented singer Arkady Savin, spoiled and capricious Claire. It is Claire who enters the precarious inner world of the protagonist and her presence there drives his decisions. It is easy to see that Claire is about to lose her mythical position in the protagonist's imaginary hierarchy after he finally gets into her bed...
The impressions from this book support my earlier take on the author as an individual capable of interesting observations and unusual ideas. However, to me he remains somewhat immature, a brilliant adolescent arrested in his development either by brutal circumstances or by choice. Gaito Gazdanov is not an author I intend to read again.
There are touching descriptions of the author's childhood, beautiful passages devoted to his parents, and an unusually detailed account of the inner word of the protagonist/author. This inner world is composed of daydreams and overlaps with fever induced nightmares creating a somewhat surreal effect. Life of the growing child is strongly anchored to his internal world to such an extent that external impressions and events have little effect on forming of his character. He goes through life more like a detached observer than an active participant. This detachment is most evident in the author's matter of fact account of the horrors of the Civil war. This part of the book is perhaps most effective thanks to the observer's point of view. Atrocities and terror find little emotional response in the protagonist submerged in his own internal underworld. This lack of emotions in the description of the bloody carnage serves as an amplification device for the reader.
While looking into the author's mind is an unusual privilege we get in this book, what we see down there is not that pretty. There are interesting ideas and concepts but only a few. The dominating impression is an unjustified feeling of superiority the protagonist feels towards other people with a few notable exceptions. His judgement based on his inner world's presumed richness and his reading experience serves him as a method to easily dismiss people around him as not worthy, inferior. The only people who avoid this kind of treatment are those who themselves have an air of superiority about them: the protagonist's mother, a cold blooded killer and a talented singer Arkady Savin, spoiled and capricious Claire. It is Claire who enters the precarious inner world of the protagonist and her presence there drives his decisions. It is easy to see that Claire is about to lose her mythical position in the protagonist's imaginary hierarchy after he finally gets into her bed...
The impressions from this book support my earlier take on the author as an individual capable of interesting observations and unusual ideas. However, to me he remains somewhat immature, a brilliant adolescent arrested in his development either by brutal circumstances or by choice. Gaito Gazdanov is not an author I intend to read again.
December 21, 2021
My thanks to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for a review copy of the book.
The first book by Russian 茅migr茅 writer Gaito Gazdanov, An Evening with Claire (1929), opens in Paris where we are introduced to our narrator and main character, Nikolai Sosedov or Kolya. After ten years, Kolya has been reunited with his first love, Claire, one he has never ceased loving, and has always dreamt of. As the romance he has imagined for so long becomes real, the unattainable dream-like status Claire has always had in Kolya鈥檚 thoughts fades away. But his thoughts of the Claire of his dreams, or rather of a dream-like image of Claire that he needs to always have, lead him back to times past鈥攊n fact all the way back to his childhood in Russia.
In a flowy narrative, with loosely connected memories of different people, incidents and times in his life, we follow Kolya from his idyllic childhood, which lasted somewhat briefly for he lost his father when he was only eight; his life with his cold but admirable mother; in the gymnasium and military academy; carefree times spent wandering in his grandfather鈥檚 orchards in the holidays; his meeting with Claire; and ultimately the civil war in which he joined the White Army and eventually found himself having to leave Russia. Throughout these recollections what Kolya tells us is his perceptions of scenes he witnessed, incidents he experienced, and people he met鈥攁t different times in his life, these were from all walks of life, his own family, fellow students, teachers and fellow soldiers.
Kolya makes for an interesting, yet puzzling character; there are some things he feels strongly鈥攍ike the loss of his father (I鈥檝e perished with him, so too my fabulous ship, and the island with white buildings which I discovered in the Indian ocean), or even an incident involving Claire鈥檚 mother鈥檚 rather harsh words to him, while in others, whether it is the death of his sisters (here his reaction seemed more to his mother鈥檚 sorrow which made him almost guilty to be alive) or the pointless and seemingly endless injury and loss of life during the war which he seems almost numb to. Moments of 鈥榩erfect happiness鈥� are perhaps few, like when he is a child:
鈥itting on Father鈥檚 knees and glancing from time to time at mother鈥檚 placid face鈥攆or she was usually by his side鈥擨 experienced true happiness, the sort that only a child or man possessed of extraordinary spiritual strength can feel.
Or amidst nature or in a book:
In that moment, as whenever I was truly happy, I vanished from my own consciousness. It could happen in a forest, in a field, on a river, by the seashore; it could happen while I was reading a captivating book.
But for the most part, Kolya seems to live within himself鈥攊n his inner life, as opposed to the outer one鈥攁nd so looks at most others, in a rather detached manner. In his memories we meet a range of personalities, warm and cold, brave and cowardly, learned and hypocritical, as well as some colourful characters.
What defines Kolya perhaps is his constant search for something鈥攖he adventure on the Indian Ocean in his childhood games with his father, the search for 鈥榗hange鈥� , to be somewhere which alone leads him to join the White Army (he has no belief in their cause or for that matter, in the Reds鈥�), and so too, is the dream of Claire鈥攚hich we soon realise means not so much the person but an unattainable dream which he must always have to carry him on, and forward. At one point, Kolya observes of a fellow student, Vasily Nikolaevich, he was always searching for his truth, wherever he happened to be. And that seems to apply to Kolya too, always needing to have that dream he is in pursuit of.
While I enjoyed the writing in the book (the translation was excellent, and it never felt that I was reading one), and the different memories through which Kolya takes us through (his childhood memories are lovely while those of the war once again make one question the point of it), I found myself struggling with how to understand the book. But thinking over it all, Kolya perhaps represents the experience of Gazdanov himself, and perhaps many other emigres, their home taken away from them (probably) forever, left only with snatches of memory of times past, and 鈥楥laire鈥�, that unattainable dream he is always in search of, the only thing they can hold on to.
(This is probably more of an exercise in my trying to understand the book than a review per se, I know, but these were the thoughts that came to mind).
I got interested in picking up this book after reading excellent reviews by Karen from Kaggsy's Bookish Ramblings () and by a 欧宝娱乐 friend, Alwynne (/review/show...).
The first book by Russian 茅migr茅 writer Gaito Gazdanov, An Evening with Claire (1929), opens in Paris where we are introduced to our narrator and main character, Nikolai Sosedov or Kolya. After ten years, Kolya has been reunited with his first love, Claire, one he has never ceased loving, and has always dreamt of. As the romance he has imagined for so long becomes real, the unattainable dream-like status Claire has always had in Kolya鈥檚 thoughts fades away. But his thoughts of the Claire of his dreams, or rather of a dream-like image of Claire that he needs to always have, lead him back to times past鈥攊n fact all the way back to his childhood in Russia.
In a flowy narrative, with loosely connected memories of different people, incidents and times in his life, we follow Kolya from his idyllic childhood, which lasted somewhat briefly for he lost his father when he was only eight; his life with his cold but admirable mother; in the gymnasium and military academy; carefree times spent wandering in his grandfather鈥檚 orchards in the holidays; his meeting with Claire; and ultimately the civil war in which he joined the White Army and eventually found himself having to leave Russia. Throughout these recollections what Kolya tells us is his perceptions of scenes he witnessed, incidents he experienced, and people he met鈥攁t different times in his life, these were from all walks of life, his own family, fellow students, teachers and fellow soldiers.
Kolya makes for an interesting, yet puzzling character; there are some things he feels strongly鈥攍ike the loss of his father (I鈥檝e perished with him, so too my fabulous ship, and the island with white buildings which I discovered in the Indian ocean), or even an incident involving Claire鈥檚 mother鈥檚 rather harsh words to him, while in others, whether it is the death of his sisters (here his reaction seemed more to his mother鈥檚 sorrow which made him almost guilty to be alive) or the pointless and seemingly endless injury and loss of life during the war which he seems almost numb to. Moments of 鈥榩erfect happiness鈥� are perhaps few, like when he is a child:
鈥itting on Father鈥檚 knees and glancing from time to time at mother鈥檚 placid face鈥攆or she was usually by his side鈥擨 experienced true happiness, the sort that only a child or man possessed of extraordinary spiritual strength can feel.
Or amidst nature or in a book:
In that moment, as whenever I was truly happy, I vanished from my own consciousness. It could happen in a forest, in a field, on a river, by the seashore; it could happen while I was reading a captivating book.
But for the most part, Kolya seems to live within himself鈥攊n his inner life, as opposed to the outer one鈥攁nd so looks at most others, in a rather detached manner. In his memories we meet a range of personalities, warm and cold, brave and cowardly, learned and hypocritical, as well as some colourful characters.
What defines Kolya perhaps is his constant search for something鈥攖he adventure on the Indian Ocean in his childhood games with his father, the search for 鈥榗hange鈥� , to be somewhere which alone leads him to join the White Army (he has no belief in their cause or for that matter, in the Reds鈥�), and so too, is the dream of Claire鈥攚hich we soon realise means not so much the person but an unattainable dream which he must always have to carry him on, and forward. At one point, Kolya observes of a fellow student, Vasily Nikolaevich, he was always searching for his truth, wherever he happened to be. And that seems to apply to Kolya too, always needing to have that dream he is in pursuit of.
While I enjoyed the writing in the book (the translation was excellent, and it never felt that I was reading one), and the different memories through which Kolya takes us through (his childhood memories are lovely while those of the war once again make one question the point of it), I found myself struggling with how to understand the book. But thinking over it all, Kolya perhaps represents the experience of Gazdanov himself, and perhaps many other emigres, their home taken away from them (probably) forever, left only with snatches of memory of times past, and 鈥楥laire鈥�, that unattainable dream he is always in search of, the only thing they can hold on to.
(This is probably more of an exercise in my trying to understand the book than a review per se, I know, but these were the thoughts that came to mind).
I got interested in picking up this book after reading excellent reviews by Karen from Kaggsy's Bookish Ramblings () and by a 欧宝娱乐 friend, Alwynne (/review/show...).
March 5, 2024
鈥淏ut Claire is French,鈥� I suddenly recalled, 鈥渁nd if this is so, then what was all that constant, intense sorrow about snow and green plains for, all that sorrow for those many lives I had lived in a country now hidden from me behind a fiery curtain?鈥� I began to dream of meeting Claire in Paris, where she had been born, and where she would undoubtedly return. Before my eyes I saw France, Claire鈥檚 native land, and Paris, and the place de la Concorde; and the square seemed different to me than the one I had seen depicted on postcards.
Born in Saint Petersburg, Gaito Gazdanov (1903 - 1971) left Russia for Paris in 1920, where he started working for Renault. At the time he also wrote short stories about the immigrant experience. This first phase of his authorial career culminated in his first novel or, rather, novella, An Evening with Claire, a work from 1929 which is still considered one of the classics of Russian emigr茅 literature.
It feels natural to consider this an autobiographical work. Its narrator, Kolya, a Russian based in Paris, spends his evenings with Claire, an old flame with whom he was besotted as a young man ten years before. His meetings with Claire, who is now married, set off a train of memories of his childhood and youth, of his family, friends and schoolmates.
Kolya鈥檚 (and Gazdanov鈥檚) sense of displacement as an immigrant is mirrored in the style of writing which seems to hover on the cusp of modernism, unsure whether to abandon itself to the lush Romanticism of a past age, or to embrace a more contemporary stream-of-consciousness approach. Kolya鈥檚 lyrical voice is well captured in the translation prepared by the indefatigable Bryan Karetnyk, who is doing so much to bring lesser-known classics of Russian literature to the English-speaking public.
If I am disappointed with the novel it is only because it was not the love story which I was expecting after reading the blurbs (and which I was in the mood for). The eponymous Claire is, ultimately, not a character we ever come to know intimately. She remains primarily, if not exclusively, a symbol of the emigr茅 experience, her unattainability seemingly inseparable from her Frenchness:
I could distinguish between simple unknowns and strangers par excellence, a type that existed in my imagination like that of a foreigner - which is to say, a person not only of different nationality, but who belonged to a different world, one that was inaccessible to me. Perhaps my feelings were in part because she was French and a foreigner. Although she spoke Russian with perfect fluency and accuracy and understood everything down to the meaning of folk sayings, there remained in her a certain charm that a Russian girl would never have had...
Like the music of Stravinsky鈥檚 French years, or the 1920s Parisian streetscapes of Konstantin Korovin, Gazdanov鈥檚 An Evening with Claire is not only a fine work in its own right, but is also an important expression of a particular community at an important juncture in 20th Century history.
Born in Saint Petersburg, Gaito Gazdanov (1903 - 1971) left Russia for Paris in 1920, where he started working for Renault. At the time he also wrote short stories about the immigrant experience. This first phase of his authorial career culminated in his first novel or, rather, novella, An Evening with Claire, a work from 1929 which is still considered one of the classics of Russian emigr茅 literature.
It feels natural to consider this an autobiographical work. Its narrator, Kolya, a Russian based in Paris, spends his evenings with Claire, an old flame with whom he was besotted as a young man ten years before. His meetings with Claire, who is now married, set off a train of memories of his childhood and youth, of his family, friends and schoolmates.
Kolya鈥檚 (and Gazdanov鈥檚) sense of displacement as an immigrant is mirrored in the style of writing which seems to hover on the cusp of modernism, unsure whether to abandon itself to the lush Romanticism of a past age, or to embrace a more contemporary stream-of-consciousness approach. Kolya鈥檚 lyrical voice is well captured in the translation prepared by the indefatigable Bryan Karetnyk, who is doing so much to bring lesser-known classics of Russian literature to the English-speaking public.
If I am disappointed with the novel it is only because it was not the love story which I was expecting after reading the blurbs (and which I was in the mood for). The eponymous Claire is, ultimately, not a character we ever come to know intimately. She remains primarily, if not exclusively, a symbol of the emigr茅 experience, her unattainability seemingly inseparable from her Frenchness:
I could distinguish between simple unknowns and strangers par excellence, a type that existed in my imagination like that of a foreigner - which is to say, a person not only of different nationality, but who belonged to a different world, one that was inaccessible to me. Perhaps my feelings were in part because she was French and a foreigner. Although she spoke Russian with perfect fluency and accuracy and understood everything down to the meaning of folk sayings, there remained in her a certain charm that a Russian girl would never have had...
Like the music of Stravinsky鈥檚 French years, or the 1920s Parisian streetscapes of Konstantin Korovin, Gazdanov鈥檚 An Evening with Claire is not only a fine work in its own right, but is also an important expression of a particular community at an important juncture in 20th Century history.
June 18, 2020
Ljubavna pri膷a izme膽u zrele 啪ene i mladi膰a u 膷ijoj je pozadini podastrta panorama jedne Rusije koja mi nije toliko poznata: Rusija nakon revolucije vi膽ena o膷ima" druge strane", pripadnika bijelih, ruske emigracije, 啪ivota u tu膽ini, nostalgije. Fragmentarno pripovijedanju i elementi misticizma pridaju romanu bajkovitost i za膷udnu egzoti膷nost. Ima tu neke satievske egzistencijalne tjeskobe i osje膰aja nepripadanja.
Stilski izuzetno lijepo i profinjeno, u najboljoj tradiciji Bunjina i Paustovskog. Mislim da 膰emo se Gajto i ja jo拧 dru啪it.
Stilski izuzetno lijepo i profinjeno, u najboljoj tradiciji Bunjina i Paustovskog. Mislim da 膰emo se Gajto i ja jo拧 dru啪it.
June 11, 2022
螕喂伪 蟺慰位位维 蠂蟻蠈谓喂伪, 未喂伪尾伪味伪 蟽蠂蔚未蠈谓 伪蟺慰魏位蔚喂蟽蟿喂魏维 魏位伪蟽蟽喂魏萎 位慰纬慰蟿蔚蠂谓委伪. 螒蠀蟿蠈 维位位伪尉蔚 蟿畏谓 蟿蔚位蔚蠀蟿伪委伪 未蔚魏伪蟺蔚谓蟿伪蔚蟿委伪 纬喂伪 未喂维蠁慰蟻慰蠀蟼 位蠈纬慰蠀蟼. 危喂纬维 蟽喂纬维 蠀蟺萎蟻尉蔚 渭喂伪 喂蟽慰蟻蟻慰蟺委伪 渭蔚蟿伪尉蠉 蟽蠉纬蠂蟻慰谓畏蟼 魏伪喂 魏位伪蟽蟽喂魏萎蟼 位慰纬慰蟿蔚蠂谓委伪蟼 魏伪喂 蟿伪 蟿蔚位蔚蠀蟿伪委伪 蠂蟻蠈谓喂伪 畏 味蠀纬伪蟻喂维 苇纬蔚喂蟻蔚 尉蔚魏维胃伪蟻伪 蟺蟻慰蟼 蟿畏 蟽蠉纬蠂蟻慰谓畏 位慰纬慰蟿蔚蠂谓委伪.
螖蔚谓 蔚委渭伪喂 蟽委纬慰蠀蟻畏 蟺蠅蟼 蟿慰 尾喂尾位喂慰 伪蠀蟿蠈 伪谓萎魏蔚喂 蟽蟿伪 苇蟻纬伪 蟿畏蟼 魏位伪蟽蟽喂魏萎蟼 位慰纬慰蟿蔚蠂谓喂伪蟼, 渭维位位慰谓 蠈蠂喂, 蔚蠂蔚喂 蠈渭蠅蟼 蟺慰位位维 魏慰喂谓维 蟽蟿慰喂蠂蔚委伪 渭蔚 蟿伪 苇蟻纬伪 蟿蠅谓 渭蔚纬维位蠅谓 巍蠋蟽蠅谓 魏位伪蟽喂魏蠋谓: 蟽蟿畏 纬位蠋蟽蟽伪, 蟿慰 蠉蠁慰蟼, 蟿喂蟼 蟺蔚蟻喂纬蟻伪蠁苇蟼. 螖喂伪尾维味慰谓蟿维蟼 蟿慰, 未喂伪蟺委蟽蟿蠅蟽伪 蟺蠈蟽慰 蟺慰位蠉 渭蔚 魏慰蠀蟻维味蔚喂 蟺位苇慰谓 伪蠀蟿萎 畏 蟻慰渭伪谓蟿喂魏萎, 蟺蔚蟽喂渭喂蟽蟿喂魏萎 伪蟿渭蠈蟽蠁伪喂蟻伪, 慰喂 慰谓蔚喂蟻慰蟺慰位萎蟽蔚喂蟼, 慰喂 蠁喂位慰蟽慰蠁喂魏慰委 蟽蟿慰蠂伪蟽渭慰委, 慰喂 蔚蠀伪委蟽胃畏蟿蔚蟼 魏伪喂 蟿伪蠀蟿蠈蠂蟻慰谓伪 伪魏伪蟿伪渭维蠂畏蟿蔚蟼 纬蠀谓伪委魏蔚蟼...
韦慰 尾喂尾位委慰 蔚委谓伪喂 蔚尉伪喂蟻蔚蟿喂魏维 魏伪位慰纬蟻伪渭渭苇谓慰, 蔚委谓伪喂 蟽伪蠁苇蟼 蠈蟿喂 畏 渭蔚蟿伪蠁蟻维蟽蟿蟻喂伪, 螘位苇谓畏 螠蟺伪魏慰蟺慰蠉位慰蠀, 魏伪喂 慰 蔚魏未慰蟿喂魏蠈蟼 (伪谓蟿委蟺慰未蔚蟼) 苇蠂慰蠀谓 魏维谓蔚喂 蔚尉伪喂蟻蔚蟿喂魏萎 未慰蠀位蔚喂维, 伪位位维 未蔚 渭蔚 魏蟻维蟿畏蟽蔚. 螔伪蟻苇胃畏魏伪, 蟿慰 未喂维尾伪蟽伪 渭畏蠂伪谓喂魏维 (纬喂伪蟿委 未蔚谓 蟿慰蠀 维尉喂味蔚 谓伪 蟿慰 蟺伪蟻伪蟿萎蟽蠅) 魏伪喂 尉蔚蠁蠉蟽畏尉伪 渭蔚 伪谓伪魏慰蠉蠁喂蟽畏 蠈蟿伪谓 蟿蔚位蔚喂蠅蟽蔚...
螖蔚谓 蔚委渭伪喂 蟽委纬慰蠀蟻畏 蟺蠅蟼 蟿慰 尾喂尾位喂慰 伪蠀蟿蠈 伪谓萎魏蔚喂 蟽蟿伪 苇蟻纬伪 蟿畏蟼 魏位伪蟽蟽喂魏萎蟼 位慰纬慰蟿蔚蠂谓喂伪蟼, 渭维位位慰谓 蠈蠂喂, 蔚蠂蔚喂 蠈渭蠅蟼 蟺慰位位维 魏慰喂谓维 蟽蟿慰喂蠂蔚委伪 渭蔚 蟿伪 苇蟻纬伪 蟿蠅谓 渭蔚纬维位蠅谓 巍蠋蟽蠅谓 魏位伪蟽喂魏蠋谓: 蟽蟿畏 纬位蠋蟽蟽伪, 蟿慰 蠉蠁慰蟼, 蟿喂蟼 蟺蔚蟻喂纬蟻伪蠁苇蟼. 螖喂伪尾维味慰谓蟿维蟼 蟿慰, 未喂伪蟺委蟽蟿蠅蟽伪 蟺蠈蟽慰 蟺慰位蠉 渭蔚 魏慰蠀蟻维味蔚喂 蟺位苇慰谓 伪蠀蟿萎 畏 蟻慰渭伪谓蟿喂魏萎, 蟺蔚蟽喂渭喂蟽蟿喂魏萎 伪蟿渭蠈蟽蠁伪喂蟻伪, 慰喂 慰谓蔚喂蟻慰蟺慰位萎蟽蔚喂蟼, 慰喂 蠁喂位慰蟽慰蠁喂魏慰委 蟽蟿慰蠂伪蟽渭慰委, 慰喂 蔚蠀伪委蟽胃畏蟿蔚蟼 魏伪喂 蟿伪蠀蟿蠈蠂蟻慰谓伪 伪魏伪蟿伪渭维蠂畏蟿蔚蟼 纬蠀谓伪委魏蔚蟼...
韦慰 尾喂尾位委慰 蔚委谓伪喂 蔚尉伪喂蟻蔚蟿喂魏维 魏伪位慰纬蟻伪渭渭苇谓慰, 蔚委谓伪喂 蟽伪蠁苇蟼 蠈蟿喂 畏 渭蔚蟿伪蠁蟻维蟽蟿蟻喂伪, 螘位苇谓畏 螠蟺伪魏慰蟺慰蠉位慰蠀, 魏伪喂 慰 蔚魏未慰蟿喂魏蠈蟼 (伪谓蟿委蟺慰未蔚蟼) 苇蠂慰蠀谓 魏维谓蔚喂 蔚尉伪喂蟻蔚蟿喂魏萎 未慰蠀位蔚喂维, 伪位位维 未蔚 渭蔚 魏蟻维蟿畏蟽蔚. 螔伪蟻苇胃畏魏伪, 蟿慰 未喂维尾伪蟽伪 渭畏蠂伪谓喂魏维 (纬喂伪蟿委 未蔚谓 蟿慰蠀 维尉喂味蔚 谓伪 蟿慰 蟺伪蟻伪蟿萎蟽蠅) 魏伪喂 尉蔚蠁蠉蟽畏尉伪 渭蔚 伪谓伪魏慰蠉蠁喂蟽畏 蠈蟿伪谓 蟿蔚位蔚喂蠅蟽蔚...
August 29, 2021
袦械谢邪薪褏芯谢械薪 锌芯谢械褌 薪邪 械写薪邪 褋懈谢薪芯 锌芯械褌懈褔薪邪 屑懈褋褗谢.
袘懈褏 泻邪蟹邪谢邪, 褔械 褌邪蟹懈 褋懈谢薪邪 褔褍胁褋褌胁懈褌械谢薪芯褋褌 蟹邪 褍褋械褖邪薪懈褟 械 薪械褖芯褌芯, 泻芯械褌芯 屑懈 褋械 褋褌褉褍胁邪 - 芯褋芯斜械薪芯 芯褌泻邪泻褌芯 薪邪屑懈褉邪屑 褍 褋械斜械 褋懈 蟹薪邪褔懈褌械谢薪邪 蟹褉褟谢芯褋褌 - 薪邪泄-胁邪卸薪芯褌芯 褔芯胁械褕泻芯 褍屑械薪懈械. 袧邪锌褗谢薪芯 芯褌谐芯胁邪褉褟 薪邪 屑芯褟 泻芯锌薪械卸 懈 锌褉械写褋褌邪胁邪 蟹邪 卸懈胁芯褌.
袦薪芯谐芯 屑懈 写芯锌邪写薪邪 懈蟹褟褖薪芯褋褌褌邪 薪邪 锌芯褌芯泻邪 薪邪 屑懈褋褗谢褌邪 (谢懈褕械薪 芯褌 褑懈薪懈蟹屑邪 懈 谐褉褍斜芯褋褌褌邪 薪邪 鈥炐炐葱秆佇敌光€�), 泻芯泄褌芯, 芯褋胁械薪 写褉褍谐芯褌芯, 械 懈 蟹邪谐谢褗褏胁邪褖 芯褌谐谢邪褋 芯褌 械写薪邪 械锌芯褏邪 薪邪 褉芯屑邪薪褌懈褔薪懈 懈 邪褉懈褋褌芯泻褉邪褌懈褔薪懈 胁褉械屑械薪邪, 薪邪 泻芯懈褌芯 胁懈薪邪谐懈 褋褗屑 褋械 胁褗蟹褏懈褖邪胁邪谢邪. 啸邪褉械褋胁邪 屑懈 褋褗褖芯 褌邪泻邪 写邪 褔械褌邪 屑懈褋谢懈褌械 薪邪 写褍褕械胁薪芯 斜芯谐邪褌懈褌械 褏芯褉邪, 锌褉懈褟褌薪芯 屑懈 械 写邪 褔械褌邪 写芯褉懈 蟹邪 械卸械写薪械胁薪懈褌械 懈屑 薪械蟹薪邪褔懈褌械谢薪懈 写械泄褋褌胁懈褟, 褋锌芯屑械薪懈 懈 褋褉械褖懈.
小褗胁褋械屑 屑邪谢泻芯 薪械 写芯褋褌懈谐薪邪 薪邪 泻薪懈谐邪褌邪 写邪 屑械 蟹邪锌谢械薪懈 懈褋褌懈薪褋泻懈, 薪芯 胁褋褟泻邪 写褉褍谐邪 薪械泄薪邪 褎芯褉屑邪 锌褉懈 褌芯胁邪 褲 褋褗写褗褉卸邪薪懈械 胁械褉芯褟褌薪芯 斜懈 芯褌薪械谢邪 芯褌 泻邪褔械褋褌胁邪褌邪 褲, 蟹邪褖芯褌芯 褋邪屑邪 锌芯 褋械斜械 褋懈 械 薪邪懈褋褌懈薪邪 屑薪芯谐芯 褏褍斜邪胁邪.
袘懈褏 泻邪蟹邪谢邪, 褔械 褌邪蟹懈 褋懈谢薪邪 褔褍胁褋褌胁懈褌械谢薪芯褋褌 蟹邪 褍褋械褖邪薪懈褟 械 薪械褖芯褌芯, 泻芯械褌芯 屑懈 褋械 褋褌褉褍胁邪 - 芯褋芯斜械薪芯 芯褌泻邪泻褌芯 薪邪屑懈褉邪屑 褍 褋械斜械 褋懈 蟹薪邪褔懈褌械谢薪邪 蟹褉褟谢芯褋褌 - 薪邪泄-胁邪卸薪芯褌芯 褔芯胁械褕泻芯 褍屑械薪懈械. 袧邪锌褗谢薪芯 芯褌谐芯胁邪褉褟 薪邪 屑芯褟 泻芯锌薪械卸 懈 锌褉械写褋褌邪胁邪 蟹邪 卸懈胁芯褌.
袦薪芯谐芯 屑懈 写芯锌邪写薪邪 懈蟹褟褖薪芯褋褌褌邪 薪邪 锌芯褌芯泻邪 薪邪 屑懈褋褗谢褌邪 (谢懈褕械薪 芯褌 褑懈薪懈蟹屑邪 懈 谐褉褍斜芯褋褌褌邪 薪邪 鈥炐炐葱秆佇敌光€�), 泻芯泄褌芯, 芯褋胁械薪 写褉褍谐芯褌芯, 械 懈 蟹邪谐谢褗褏胁邪褖 芯褌谐谢邪褋 芯褌 械写薪邪 械锌芯褏邪 薪邪 褉芯屑邪薪褌懈褔薪懈 懈 邪褉懈褋褌芯泻褉邪褌懈褔薪懈 胁褉械屑械薪邪, 薪邪 泻芯懈褌芯 胁懈薪邪谐懈 褋褗屑 褋械 胁褗蟹褏懈褖邪胁邪谢邪. 啸邪褉械褋胁邪 屑懈 褋褗褖芯 褌邪泻邪 写邪 褔械褌邪 屑懈褋谢懈褌械 薪邪 写褍褕械胁薪芯 斜芯谐邪褌懈褌械 褏芯褉邪, 锌褉懈褟褌薪芯 屑懈 械 写邪 褔械褌邪 写芯褉懈 蟹邪 械卸械写薪械胁薪懈褌械 懈屑 薪械蟹薪邪褔懈褌械谢薪懈 写械泄褋褌胁懈褟, 褋锌芯屑械薪懈 懈 褋褉械褖懈.
小褗胁褋械屑 屑邪谢泻芯 薪械 写芯褋褌懈谐薪邪 薪邪 泻薪懈谐邪褌邪 写邪 屑械 蟹邪锌谢械薪懈 懈褋褌懈薪褋泻懈, 薪芯 胁褋褟泻邪 写褉褍谐邪 薪械泄薪邪 褎芯褉屑邪 锌褉懈 褌芯胁邪 褲 褋褗写褗褉卸邪薪懈械 胁械褉芯褟褌薪芯 斜懈 芯褌薪械谢邪 芯褌 泻邪褔械褋褌胁邪褌邪 褲, 蟹邪褖芯褌芯 褋邪屑邪 锌芯 褋械斜械 褋懈 械 薪邪懈褋褌懈薪邪 屑薪芯谐芯 褏褍斜邪胁邪.
November 25, 2011
袩褋懈褏芯写械谢懈褔械褋泻邪褟 泻薪懈谐邪 :) 孝褉械斜褍械褌 薪械褋锌械褕薪芯谐芯 懈 褌懈褏芯谐芯 锌褉芯褔褌械薪懈褟, 薪械 薪邪 斜械谐褍...
袙芯-锌械褉胁褘褏, 锌褉芯 谢褞斜芯胁褜 :)
袙芯-胁褌芯褉褘褏, 锌褉芯 袪芯褋褋懈褞 胁褉械屑械薪 谐褉邪卸写邪薪褋泻芯泄 胁芯泄薪褘 - 锌褉芯 "锌械泄蟹邪卸 褋屑械褉褌懈". 袣薪懈谐 锌褉芯 褝褌懈 褋屑褍褌薪褘械 胁褉械屑械薪邪 屑薪芯卸械褋褌胁芯, 薪芯 褍 邪胁褌芯褉邪 芯褔械薪褜 褋胁芯械芯斜褉邪蟹薪芯械 胁懈写械薪懈械 泻邪褌邪泻谢懈蟹屑邪, 泻邪泻 斜褘 懈蟹薪褍褌褉懈...
袙-褌褉械褌褜懈褏, 屑械褋褌邪屑懈 锌褉芯褋褌芯 胁褕褌褘褉懈谢懈 :) 芯褔械薪褜 褌芯薪泻懈械 懈 谐谢褍斜芯泻懈械 懈薪褌褉芯褋锌械泻褌懈胁薪褘械 锌芯谐褉褍卸械薪懈褟 邪胁褌芯褉邪 胁 褋胁芯泄 褋芯斜褋褌胁械薪薪褘泄 胁薪褍褌褉械薪薪懈泄 屑懈褉. 袨褔械薪褜 薪械屑薪芯谐懈械 褍屑械褞褌 锌芯写屑械褌懈褌褜, 褍褏胁邪褌懈褌褜 懈 胁褘褉邪蟹懈褌褜 褋谢芯胁邪屑懈 褌芯薪泻懈械 懈 褍褋泻芯谢褜蟹邪褞褖懈械 写褍褕械胁薪褘械 褋芯褋褌芯褟薪懈褟, 泻芯褌芯褉褘屑 薪械褌 锌褉褟屑芯谢懈薪械泄薪褘褏 薪邪蟹胁邪薪懈泄.
携蟹褘泻 泻薪懈谐懈 芯褔械薪褜 胁泻褍褋薪褘泄, 薪芯 薪械屑薪芯谐芯 褌褟卸械谢芯胁邪褌 (锌芯褝褌芯屑褍 懈 褌褉械斜褍械褌 薪械褋锌械褕薪芯谐芯 褔褌械薪懈褟-锌芯谐褉褍卸械薪懈褟).
袠 械褖褢 - 褌械泻褋褌 褋褌褉邪写邪械褌 薪械泻芯褌芯褉芯泄 褎褉邪谐屑械薪褌邪褉薪芯褋褌褜褞... 袙芯蟹屑芯卸薪芯, 褝褌芯 薪械 屑懈薪褍褋, 邪 邪胁褌芯褉褋泻懈泄 锌褉懈褢屑, 褔褌芯斜褘 械褖褢 斜芯谢褜褕械 锌芯写褔械褉泻薪褍褌褜 懈薪褌褉芯褋锌械泻褌懈胁薪芯褋褌褜 褌械泻褋褌邪. 袧芯 褔懈褌邪褌褜 褌褟卸械谢芯胁邪褌芯...
袙芯-锌械褉胁褘褏, 锌褉芯 谢褞斜芯胁褜 :)
袙芯-胁褌芯褉褘褏, 锌褉芯 袪芯褋褋懈褞 胁褉械屑械薪 谐褉邪卸写邪薪褋泻芯泄 胁芯泄薪褘 - 锌褉芯 "锌械泄蟹邪卸 褋屑械褉褌懈". 袣薪懈谐 锌褉芯 褝褌懈 褋屑褍褌薪褘械 胁褉械屑械薪邪 屑薪芯卸械褋褌胁芯, 薪芯 褍 邪胁褌芯褉邪 芯褔械薪褜 褋胁芯械芯斜褉邪蟹薪芯械 胁懈写械薪懈械 泻邪褌邪泻谢懈蟹屑邪, 泻邪泻 斜褘 懈蟹薪褍褌褉懈...
袙-褌褉械褌褜懈褏, 屑械褋褌邪屑懈 锌褉芯褋褌芯 胁褕褌褘褉懈谢懈 :) 芯褔械薪褜 褌芯薪泻懈械 懈 谐谢褍斜芯泻懈械 懈薪褌褉芯褋锌械泻褌懈胁薪褘械 锌芯谐褉褍卸械薪懈褟 邪胁褌芯褉邪 胁 褋胁芯泄 褋芯斜褋褌胁械薪薪褘泄 胁薪褍褌褉械薪薪懈泄 屑懈褉. 袨褔械薪褜 薪械屑薪芯谐懈械 褍屑械褞褌 锌芯写屑械褌懈褌褜, 褍褏胁邪褌懈褌褜 懈 胁褘褉邪蟹懈褌褜 褋谢芯胁邪屑懈 褌芯薪泻懈械 懈 褍褋泻芯谢褜蟹邪褞褖懈械 写褍褕械胁薪褘械 褋芯褋褌芯褟薪懈褟, 泻芯褌芯褉褘屑 薪械褌 锌褉褟屑芯谢懈薪械泄薪褘褏 薪邪蟹胁邪薪懈泄.
携蟹褘泻 泻薪懈谐懈 芯褔械薪褜 胁泻褍褋薪褘泄, 薪芯 薪械屑薪芯谐芯 褌褟卸械谢芯胁邪褌 (锌芯褝褌芯屑褍 懈 褌褉械斜褍械褌 薪械褋锌械褕薪芯谐芯 褔褌械薪懈褟-锌芯谐褉褍卸械薪懈褟).
袠 械褖褢 - 褌械泻褋褌 褋褌褉邪写邪械褌 薪械泻芯褌芯褉芯泄 褎褉邪谐屑械薪褌邪褉薪芯褋褌褜褞... 袙芯蟹屑芯卸薪芯, 褝褌芯 薪械 屑懈薪褍褋, 邪 邪胁褌芯褉褋泻懈泄 锌褉懈褢屑, 褔褌芯斜褘 械褖褢 斜芯谢褜褕械 锌芯写褔械褉泻薪褍褌褜 懈薪褌褉芯褋锌械泻褌懈胁薪芯褋褌褜 褌械泻褋褌邪. 袧芯 褔懈褌邪褌褜 褌褟卸械谢芯胁邪褌芯...
January 22, 2022
I didn't really know where to start with Russian novels for #readingenvyrussia so I jumped in with a book I had from @pushkin_press - An Evening with Claire by Gaito Gazdanov, originally published in 1930, translated from the Russian by Bryan Karetnyk.
This was an author I didn't know of, but he lived from 1903-1971, and spent most of his life outside of Russia. The novel is described as a coming of age story bookended by two encounters with a woman named Claire, but I found it to be much heavier on coming of age and very sparse on Claire. When she's present the dialogue is in French, which is a pain even if there are reasons.
Most of it is part nostalgia including references to Leo Tolstoy and Kolya's grandfather, who was a nobleman who stole horses in the Caucasus. The narrator lives during a very transitional time, and even joins the White Army against all recommendations, knowing they will probably lose. The style is very internal and philosophical and really is more of a wander through family history and the people he meets.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me early access, even if I ended up saving it for my Russian focus this year.
This was an author I didn't know of, but he lived from 1903-1971, and spent most of his life outside of Russia. The novel is described as a coming of age story bookended by two encounters with a woman named Claire, but I found it to be much heavier on coming of age and very sparse on Claire. When she's present the dialogue is in French, which is a pain even if there are reasons.
Most of it is part nostalgia including references to Leo Tolstoy and Kolya's grandfather, who was a nobleman who stole horses in the Caucasus. The narrator lives during a very transitional time, and even joins the White Army against all recommendations, knowing they will probably lose. The style is very internal and philosophical and really is more of a wander through family history and the people he meets.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me early access, even if I ended up saving it for my Russian focus this year.
January 11, 2022
袙褗胁 "袙械褔械褉 锌褉懈 袣谢械褉" 懈蟹芯斜褖芯 薪械 褋褌邪胁邪 写褍屑邪 蟹邪 胁械褔械褉 锌褉懈 袣谢械褉. 袛邪卸械 蟹邪 袣谢械褉 薪械 褋褌邪胁邪 写褍屑邪. 小褌邪胁邪, 写械, 邪屑邪 褋邪屑芯 泻芯谢泻芯褌芯 写邪 芯褌懈写械 写芯 褌芯邪谢械褌薪邪 懈 写邪 锌懈械 胁芯写邪, 懈 锌芯褋谢械 锌邪泻 褋懈 谢褟谐邪. 袠 锌褉芯写褗谢卸邪胁邪 写邪 褋褗薪褍胁邪 械写懈薪 卸懈胁芯褌, 泻芯泄褌芯 械 薪械胁褗蟹屑芯卸薪芯 写邪 褉邪蟹斜械褉械褕 懈 写邪 褏邪褉械褋邪褕, 懈 械 薪邪泄-写芯斜褉械 懈蟹芯斜褖芯 写邪 薪械 褋械 芯锌懈褌胁邪褕. 袙 锌褗褉胁懈褟 褋懈 褉芯屑邪薪 袚邪泄褌芯 袚邪蟹写邪薪芯胁 械 薪邪锌褉邪胁懈谢 械写懈薪 谐械褉芯懈褔械薪, 械锌懈褔械薪 懈 泻褉邪褋懈胁 芯锌懈褌 写邪 薪械 褋械 芯锌懈褌胁邪 - 懈 薪械 械 褍褋锌褟谢, 褉邪蟹斜懈褉邪 褋械. 孝邪蟹懈 斜懈褌泻邪 械 芯斜褉械褔械薪邪. 孝芯胁邪 械 芯斜褉械褔械薪芯褋褌褌邪 薪邪 褋懈谢薪邪褌邪 谢懈褌械褉邪褌褍褉邪, 薪邪 褔懈褟褌芯 袚邪蟹写邪薪芯胁 械 谐褉芯褋-屑邪泄褋褌芯褉, 邪 懈 薪邪 卸懈胁械械薪械褌芯 泻邪褌芯 褑褟谢芯. 袟邪褖芯褌芯 褖邪褋褌懈械褌芯 懈 褋屑懈褋褗谢褗褌 褋械 泻褉懈褟褌 胁 芯锌懈褌邪, 胁 褍褋懈谢懈械褌芯, 胁 薪械胁褗蟹屑芯卸薪芯褋褌褌邪 懈 胁 谢懈锌褋邪褌邪 薪邪 泻褉邪泄. "袙械褔械褉 锌褉懈 袣谢械褉" 械 械写薪邪 懈薪褌懈屑薪邪 懈蟹锌芯胁械写, 褔懈懈褌芯 写褗谢谐懈 泻邪褌芯 锌谢邪薪懈薪褋泻邪 褉械泻邪 懈蟹褉械褔械薪懈褟, 薪邪褋懈褌械薪懈 褋 斜械蟹褔械褌 斜褗褉蟹械懈, 褍褋芯泄薪懈 写芯谢褔懈薪泻懈 懈 胁芯写芯锌邪写懈, 褌械 锌芯胁谢懈褔邪褌 斜械蟹屑懈谢芯褋褌薪芯 薪邪薪褟泻褗写械 - 薪邪写芯谢褍, 薪邪锌褉械写, 锌芯褋谢械 薪邪蟹邪写 懈 屑邪谢泻芯 薪邪谐芯褉械, 邪 褋谢械写 褌芯胁邪 芯褌薪芯胁芯 褋褌褉械屑谐谢邪胁芯 薪邪写芯谢褍, 懈 芯斜懈泻薪芯胁械薪懈褌械 褌懈 褔芯胁械褕泻懈 褋懈谢懈 薪械 褌懈 褋褌懈谐邪褌 写邪 褋械 写芯斜械褉械褕 写芯 褋锌邪褋懈褌械谢械薪 斜褉褟谐, 芯褋胁械薪 邪泻芯 褌芯胁邪 薪械 械 斜褉械谐褗褌 薪邪 褋褗薪褟. "袙械褔械褉 锌褉懈 袣谢械褉" 褋邪屑邪 锌芯 褋械斜械 褋懈 械 褋褗薪 - 薪懈褌芯 泻芯褕屑邪褉, 薪懈褌芯 锌褉懈泻邪蟹泻邪, 薪懈褌芯 屑芯泻褗褉, 薪懈褌芯 褋褍褏. 袙褋懈褔泻芯 械写薪芯胁褉械屑械薪薪芯, 斜械蟹 蟹邪锌械褌邪泄泻懈 懈 锌褗褌薪懈 蟹薪邪褑懈, 泻芯懈褌芯 写邪 褌懈 锌芯泻邪卸邪褌 泻芯械 泻褗写械 褋胁褗褉褕胁邪 懈 薪邪泻褗写械 褌械 胁芯写懈, 芯褌泻褗写械 褌械 蟹邪胁褉褗褖邪. "袙械褔械褉 锌褉懈 袣谢械褉" 械 邪屑芯褉褎械薪 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹, 褋褗褋 褋褞卸械褌, 泻芯泄褌芯 褋邪屑芯 锌谢邪褏芯 褌懈 褋械 懈蟹胁懈薪褟胁邪 锌褉械写懈 芯褌薪芯胁芯 写邪 褋械 褋泻褉懈械 蟹邪写 斜褍泻胁懈褌械. 袟邪写 械屑芯褑懈懈褌械, 斜械蟹泻褉邪泄薪芯 褉邪蟹褌褗褉褋胁邪褖懈 懈 锌芯褔褌懈 薪邪锌褗谢薪芯 芯褌褋褗褋褌胁邪褖懈, 泻芯懈褌芯 锌褉械写 芯褔懈褌械 褌懈 褋褗卸懈胁褟胁邪褌 褔褍写芯胁懈褖械, 泻芯械褌芯 写邪 锌褉械谐褗褉薪械褕 懈 写邪 褍褌械褕懈褕. 袠 褌芯 褌械斜.
December 25, 2019
鈥炐澬靶�-锌褉械泻褉邪褋薪懈褌械, 薪邪泄-锌褉芯薪懈泻薪芯胁械薪懈 褔褍胁褋褌胁邪, 泻芯懈褌芯 褋褗屑 懈蟹锌懈褌胁邪谢 薪褟泻芯谐邪, 写褗谢卸邪褏 薪邪 屑褍蟹懈泻邪褌邪; 薪芯 薪械泄薪芯褌芯 胁褗谢褕械斜薪芯 懈 屑懈屑芯谢械褌薪芯 褋褗褖械褋褌胁芯胁邪薪懈械 械 芯薪芯胁邪, 泻褗屑 泻芯械褌芯 斜械蟹褍褋锌械褕薪芯 褋械 褋褌褉械屑褟 鈥� 懈 薪械 屑芯谐邪 写邪 卸懈胁械褟 褌邪泻邪. 袦薪芯谐芯 褔械褋褌芯 锌芯 胁褉械屑械 薪邪 泻芯薪褑械褉褌 薪械芯褔邪泻胁邪薪芯 蟹邪锌芯褔胁邪褏 写邪 褉邪蟹斜懈褉邪屑 芯薪芯胁邪, 泻芯械褌芯 写芯褌芯谐邪胁邪 屑懈 褋械 褋褌褉褍胁邪褕械 薪械褍谢芯胁懈屑芯; 屑褍蟹懈泻邪褌邪 懈蟹胁械写薪褗卸 褋褗斜褍卸写邪褕械 胁 屑械薪 褌邪泻懈胁邪 薪械芯斜懈褔邪泄薪懈 褎懈蟹懈褔械褋泻懈 褍褋械褖邪薪懈褟, 蟹邪 泻芯懈褌芯 褋械 褋屑褟褌邪褏 薪邪锌褗谢薪芯 薪械褋锌芯褋芯斜械薪, 薪芯 褋 锌芯褋谢械写薪懈褌械 蟹邪谐谢褗褏胁邪褖懈 蟹胁褍褔懈 薪邪 芯褉泻械褋褌褗褉邪 褍褋械褖邪薪懈褟褌邪 懈蟹褔械蟹胁邪褏邪 懈 邪蟹 芯褌薪芯胁芯 褋械 芯泻邪蟹胁邪褏 胁 锌褉懈褋褗褖邪褌邪 屑懈 薪械懈蟹胁械褋褌薪芯褋褌 懈 薪械褍胁械褉械薪芯褋褌.鈥�
鈥炐捬佇秆囆盒� 写械褑邪 斜褟褏邪 泻褉邪褋懈胁懈 褋 褏褍斜邪胁邪, 蟹写褉邪胁邪 泻褉邪褋芯褌邪, 斜褟褏邪 褋懈谢薪懈 褎懈蟹懈褔械褋泻懈 懈 褋泻谢芯薪薪懈 泻褗屑 胁械褋械谢斜邪, 薪芯 褉褍褋泻懈褟褌 褋邪薪谐胁懈薪懈褔械薪 褌懈锌 锌褉懈 褌褟褏 薪械 褋械 斜械 锌褉芯褟胁懈谢 写芯泻褉邪泄 斜谢邪谐芯写邪褉械薪懈械 薪邪 谐械褉屑邪薪褋泻邪褌邪 泻褉褗胁 薪邪 屑邪泄泻邪褌邪.鈥�
鈥炐曆傂� 薪脿, 褌胁褗褉写械 褉邪薪芯 薪邪褍褔懈褏屑械 屑芯屑褔械褌芯 写邪 褔械褌械, 蟹邪褌芯胁邪 褌邪泻邪 褋械 锌芯谢褍褔懈.鈥�
鈥炐澬� 褋褌褉邪褕薪懈褟褌 薪邪胁懈泻 薪械锌褉械屑械薪薪芯 写邪 胁芯写懈褕 褉邪蟹谐芯胁芯褉 蟹邪写褗褉卸邪褕械 锌芯 薪褟泻邪泻褗胁 薪邪褔懈薪 械写薪邪 屑邪谢泻邪 褔邪褋褌 芯褌 屑芯械褌芯 懈蟹锌谢褗蟹胁邪褖芯 褋械 胁薪懈屑邪薪懈械 懈 邪蟹 芯褌谐芯胁邪褉褟褏, 谐芯胁芯褉械褏 懈 写芯褉懈 褋械 芯斜懈卸写邪褏 锌芯 胁褉械屑械 薪邪 褌芯蟹懈 写懈邪谢芯谐鈥�.鈥�
鈥� 鈥� 小屑懈褋褗谢褗褌 谢懈? 鈥� 褍褔褍写懈 褋械 袙懈褌邪谢懈泄. 鈥� 袙褋褗褖薪芯褋褌 褋屑懈褋褗谢 薪褟屑邪, 褌芯泄 薪械 械 懈 薪褍卸械薪.鈥�
鈥炩€� 懈 胁褉邪卸写械斜薪芯褌芯 屑懈 芯褌薪芯褕械薪懈械 泻褗屑 褉械谢懈谐懈褟褌邪 懈 泻芯褉锌褍褋邪 褋械 蟹邪褌胁褗褉写懈 芯褖械 锌芯胁械褔械.鈥�
鈥�- 袙褟褉薪芯 谢懈 械 褌芯胁邪, 泻芯械褌芯 褋械 谐芯胁芯褉懈: 懈褋泻邪谢 褋懈 写邪 锌芯褋褌褗锌懈褕 胁 邪褉屑懈褟褌邪?
- 袛邪.
- 袙褗褉褕懈褕 谐谢褍锌芯褋褌懈.鈥�
鈥炐⌒啃狙佇拘毙叫狙佈傂秆傂� 薪邪 斜邪褖邪 屑懈 褋械 锌褉芯褟胁褟胁邪褏邪 褍 屑械薪 胁 屑薪芯谐芯 锌褉芯屑械薪械薪邪 褎芯褉屑邪: 胁屑械褋褌芯 褋懈谢薪邪 胁芯谢褟 懈 褌褗褉锌械薪懈械 鈥� 懈薪邪褌; 胁屑械褋褌芯 褌邪谢邪薪褌邪 薪邪 谢芯胁械褑 鈥� 芯褋褌褉芯 蟹褉械薪懈械, 褎懈蟹懈褔械褋泻邪 懈蟹写褉褗卸谢懈胁芯褋褌 懈 褌芯褔薪邪 薪邪斜谢褞写邪褌械谢薪芯褋褌 鈥� 薪邪 屑械薪 屑懈 褋械 斜械 锌邪写薪邪谢邪 褋邪屑芯 褋谢褟锌邪 谢褞斜芯胁 泻褗屑 卸懈胁芯褌懈薪褋泻懈褟 褋胁褟褌 懈 薪邪锌褉械谐薪邪褌, 薪芯 薪械褋褗蟹薪邪褌械谢械薪 懈 斜械蟹褑械谢械薪 懈薪褌械褉械褋 泻褗屑 胁褋懈褔泻芯, 泻芯械褌芯 褋械 褋谢褍褔胁邪, 谐芯胁芯褉懈 懈 锌褉邪胁懈 薪邪芯泻芯谢芯.鈥�
鈥炐撔拘残狙€械褕械 褎褉械薪褋泻懈 懈 薪械屑褋泻懈 褋 斜械蟹褍泻芯褉薪邪 褌芯褔薪芯褋褌, 泻芯褟褌芯 胁锌褉芯褔械屑 屑芯卸械褕械 写邪 懈蟹谐谢械卸写邪 褌胁褗褉写械 泻谢邪褋懈褔械褋泻邪; 薪芯 懈 薪邪 褉褍褋泻懈 屑芯褟褌邪 屑邪泄泻邪 褋懈 褋谢褍卸械褕械 褋邪屑芯 褋 谢懈褌械褉邪褌褍褉薪懈 懈蟹褉邪蟹懈 懈 褍锌芯褌褉械斜褟胁邪褕械 褉芯写薪邪褌邪 褉械褔 褋 芯斜懈褔邪泄薪邪褌邪 褋懈 褋褌褍写械薪懈薪邪 懈 褉邪胁薪芯写褍褕薪芯-锌褉械蟹褉懈褌械谢薪懈 懈薪褌芯薪邪褑懈懈. 袙懈薪邪谐懈 斜械褕械 褌邪泻邪胁邪; 褋邪屑芯 薪邪 斜邪褖邪 屑懈, 泻芯谐邪褌芯 斜褟褏屑械 薪邪 屑邪褋邪褌邪 懈谢懈 胁 谐芯褋褌薪邪褌邪, 薪邪泄-薪械芯褔邪泻胁邪薪芯 褋械 褍褋屑懈褏胁邪褕械 褋 薪械褍写褗褉卸懈屑芯 褉邪写芯褋褌薪邪 褍褋屑懈胁泻邪, 泻芯褟褌芯 胁 写褉褍谐芯 胁褉械屑械 懈 锌褉懈 薪懈泻邪泻胁懈 写褉褍谐懈 芯斜褋褌芯褟褌械谢褋褌胁邪 薪械 斜褟褏 胁懈卸写邪谢 褍 薪械褟. 效械褋褌芯 屑懈 锌褉邪胁械褕械 蟹邪斜械谢械卸泻懈 鈥� 褋褗胁褋械屑 褋锌芯泻芯泄薪懈, 懈蟹泻邪蟹邪薪懈 褋褗褋 褋褗褖懈褟 褉邪胁械薪 谐谢邪褋; 胁 褌邪泻懈胁邪 褋谢褍褔邪懈 斜邪褖邪 屑懈 屑械 谐谢械写邪褕械 褋褗褔褍胁褋褌胁械薪芯, 泻懈屑邪褕械 褋 谐谢邪胁邪 懈 褋褟泻邪褕 屑懈 芯泻邪蟹胁邪褕械 薪褟泻邪泻胁邪 屑褗谢褔邪谢懈胁邪 锌芯写泻褉械锌邪.鈥�
鈥炐澬�, 褋泻褗锌懈, 褋屑懈褋褗谢褗褌 械 褎懈泻褑懈褟 懈 褑械谢械褋褗芯斜褉邪蟹薪芯褋褌褌邪 械 褋褗褖芯 褎懈泻褑懈褟. 袙懈卸 泻邪泻胁芯: 邪泻芯 胁蟹械屑械褕 褉械写 褟胁谢械薪懈褟 懈 蟹邪锌芯褔薪械褕 写邪 谐懈 邪薪邪谢懈蟹懈褉邪褕, 褖械 胁懈写懈褕, 褔械 懈屑邪 薪褟泻邪泻胁懈 褋懈谢懈, 泻芯懈褌芯 薪邪锌褉邪胁谢褟胁邪褌 褌械褏薪懈褌械 写胁懈卸械薪懈褟, 薪芯 锌芯薪褟褌懈械褌芯 褋屑懈褋褗谢 薪褟屑邪 写邪 褎懈谐褍褉懈褉邪 胁 褌械蟹懈 褋懈谢懈, 薪懈褌芯 胁 褌械蟹懈 写胁懈卸械薪懈褟.鈥�
鈥炐捬佇秆囆盒� 写械褑邪 斜褟褏邪 泻褉邪褋懈胁懈 褋 褏褍斜邪胁邪, 蟹写褉邪胁邪 泻褉邪褋芯褌邪, 斜褟褏邪 褋懈谢薪懈 褎懈蟹懈褔械褋泻懈 懈 褋泻谢芯薪薪懈 泻褗屑 胁械褋械谢斜邪, 薪芯 褉褍褋泻懈褟褌 褋邪薪谐胁懈薪懈褔械薪 褌懈锌 锌褉懈 褌褟褏 薪械 褋械 斜械 锌褉芯褟胁懈谢 写芯泻褉邪泄 斜谢邪谐芯写邪褉械薪懈械 薪邪 谐械褉屑邪薪褋泻邪褌邪 泻褉褗胁 薪邪 屑邪泄泻邪褌邪.鈥�
鈥炐曆傂� 薪脿, 褌胁褗褉写械 褉邪薪芯 薪邪褍褔懈褏屑械 屑芯屑褔械褌芯 写邪 褔械褌械, 蟹邪褌芯胁邪 褌邪泻邪 褋械 锌芯谢褍褔懈.鈥�
鈥炐澬� 褋褌褉邪褕薪懈褟褌 薪邪胁懈泻 薪械锌褉械屑械薪薪芯 写邪 胁芯写懈褕 褉邪蟹谐芯胁芯褉 蟹邪写褗褉卸邪褕械 锌芯 薪褟泻邪泻褗胁 薪邪褔懈薪 械写薪邪 屑邪谢泻邪 褔邪褋褌 芯褌 屑芯械褌芯 懈蟹锌谢褗蟹胁邪褖芯 褋械 胁薪懈屑邪薪懈械 懈 邪蟹 芯褌谐芯胁邪褉褟褏, 谐芯胁芯褉械褏 懈 写芯褉懈 褋械 芯斜懈卸写邪褏 锌芯 胁褉械屑械 薪邪 褌芯蟹懈 写懈邪谢芯谐鈥�.鈥�
鈥� 鈥� 小屑懈褋褗谢褗褌 谢懈? 鈥� 褍褔褍写懈 褋械 袙懈褌邪谢懈泄. 鈥� 袙褋褗褖薪芯褋褌 褋屑懈褋褗谢 薪褟屑邪, 褌芯泄 薪械 械 懈 薪褍卸械薪.鈥�
鈥炩€� 懈 胁褉邪卸写械斜薪芯褌芯 屑懈 芯褌薪芯褕械薪懈械 泻褗屑 褉械谢懈谐懈褟褌邪 懈 泻芯褉锌褍褋邪 褋械 蟹邪褌胁褗褉写懈 芯褖械 锌芯胁械褔械.鈥�
鈥�- 袙褟褉薪芯 谢懈 械 褌芯胁邪, 泻芯械褌芯 褋械 谐芯胁芯褉懈: 懈褋泻邪谢 褋懈 写邪 锌芯褋褌褗锌懈褕 胁 邪褉屑懈褟褌邪?
- 袛邪.
- 袙褗褉褕懈褕 谐谢褍锌芯褋褌懈.鈥�
鈥炐⌒啃狙佇拘毙叫狙佈傂秆傂� 薪邪 斜邪褖邪 屑懈 褋械 锌褉芯褟胁褟胁邪褏邪 褍 屑械薪 胁 屑薪芯谐芯 锌褉芯屑械薪械薪邪 褎芯褉屑邪: 胁屑械褋褌芯 褋懈谢薪邪 胁芯谢褟 懈 褌褗褉锌械薪懈械 鈥� 懈薪邪褌; 胁屑械褋褌芯 褌邪谢邪薪褌邪 薪邪 谢芯胁械褑 鈥� 芯褋褌褉芯 蟹褉械薪懈械, 褎懈蟹懈褔械褋泻邪 懈蟹写褉褗卸谢懈胁芯褋褌 懈 褌芯褔薪邪 薪邪斜谢褞写邪褌械谢薪芯褋褌 鈥� 薪邪 屑械薪 屑懈 褋械 斜械 锌邪写薪邪谢邪 褋邪屑芯 褋谢褟锌邪 谢褞斜芯胁 泻褗屑 卸懈胁芯褌懈薪褋泻懈褟 褋胁褟褌 懈 薪邪锌褉械谐薪邪褌, 薪芯 薪械褋褗蟹薪邪褌械谢械薪 懈 斜械蟹褑械谢械薪 懈薪褌械褉械褋 泻褗屑 胁褋懈褔泻芯, 泻芯械褌芯 褋械 褋谢褍褔胁邪, 谐芯胁芯褉懈 懈 锌褉邪胁懈 薪邪芯泻芯谢芯.鈥�
鈥炐撔拘残狙€械褕械 褎褉械薪褋泻懈 懈 薪械屑褋泻懈 褋 斜械蟹褍泻芯褉薪邪 褌芯褔薪芯褋褌, 泻芯褟褌芯 胁锌褉芯褔械屑 屑芯卸械褕械 写邪 懈蟹谐谢械卸写邪 褌胁褗褉写械 泻谢邪褋懈褔械褋泻邪; 薪芯 懈 薪邪 褉褍褋泻懈 屑芯褟褌邪 屑邪泄泻邪 褋懈 褋谢褍卸械褕械 褋邪屑芯 褋 谢懈褌械褉邪褌褍褉薪懈 懈蟹褉邪蟹懈 懈 褍锌芯褌褉械斜褟胁邪褕械 褉芯写薪邪褌邪 褉械褔 褋 芯斜懈褔邪泄薪邪褌邪 褋懈 褋褌褍写械薪懈薪邪 懈 褉邪胁薪芯写褍褕薪芯-锌褉械蟹褉懈褌械谢薪懈 懈薪褌芯薪邪褑懈懈. 袙懈薪邪谐懈 斜械褕械 褌邪泻邪胁邪; 褋邪屑芯 薪邪 斜邪褖邪 屑懈, 泻芯谐邪褌芯 斜褟褏屑械 薪邪 屑邪褋邪褌邪 懈谢懈 胁 谐芯褋褌薪邪褌邪, 薪邪泄-薪械芯褔邪泻胁邪薪芯 褋械 褍褋屑懈褏胁邪褕械 褋 薪械褍写褗褉卸懈屑芯 褉邪写芯褋褌薪邪 褍褋屑懈胁泻邪, 泻芯褟褌芯 胁 写褉褍谐芯 胁褉械屑械 懈 锌褉懈 薪懈泻邪泻胁懈 写褉褍谐懈 芯斜褋褌芯褟褌械谢褋褌胁邪 薪械 斜褟褏 胁懈卸写邪谢 褍 薪械褟. 效械褋褌芯 屑懈 锌褉邪胁械褕械 蟹邪斜械谢械卸泻懈 鈥� 褋褗胁褋械屑 褋锌芯泻芯泄薪懈, 懈蟹泻邪蟹邪薪懈 褋褗褋 褋褗褖懈褟 褉邪胁械薪 谐谢邪褋; 胁 褌邪泻懈胁邪 褋谢褍褔邪懈 斜邪褖邪 屑懈 屑械 谐谢械写邪褕械 褋褗褔褍胁褋褌胁械薪芯, 泻懈屑邪褕械 褋 谐谢邪胁邪 懈 褋褟泻邪褕 屑懈 芯泻邪蟹胁邪褕械 薪褟泻邪泻胁邪 屑褗谢褔邪谢懈胁邪 锌芯写泻褉械锌邪.鈥�
鈥炐澬�, 褋泻褗锌懈, 褋屑懈褋褗谢褗褌 械 褎懈泻褑懈褟 懈 褑械谢械褋褗芯斜褉邪蟹薪芯褋褌褌邪 械 褋褗褖芯 褎懈泻褑懈褟. 袙懈卸 泻邪泻胁芯: 邪泻芯 胁蟹械屑械褕 褉械写 褟胁谢械薪懈褟 懈 蟹邪锌芯褔薪械褕 写邪 谐懈 邪薪邪谢懈蟹懈褉邪褕, 褖械 胁懈写懈褕, 褔械 懈屑邪 薪褟泻邪泻胁懈 褋懈谢懈, 泻芯懈褌芯 薪邪锌褉邪胁谢褟胁邪褌 褌械褏薪懈褌械 写胁懈卸械薪懈褟, 薪芯 锌芯薪褟褌懈械褌芯 褋屑懈褋褗谢 薪褟屑邪 写邪 褎懈谐褍褉懈褉邪 胁 褌械蟹懈 褋懈谢懈, 薪懈褌芯 胁 褌械蟹懈 写胁懈卸械薪懈褟.鈥�
July 30, 2021
I loved this book - it took me back to my years of reading Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy and Nabokov. There is a beauty in Gazdanov's writing, an intensity that saturates each page. Despite despising the main character for his arrogance - he believed he was smarter, more emotionally intact, more attractive than anyone else - I understood him to be an intolerable person. I've met those people.
Like the main character I, too, fell in thrall with Claire - who only appears in tiny segments in a book that is ultimately about war, class and morality. He sees this bombastic French girl in class and falls for her, believing her to be the only woman worthy of him. She is bright, intelligent, dazzling - and dissapears into long conversations about the differences and similarities between the white and red armies. Both are armies, both are fighting a side, one is losing, one is winning. A deeply contemplative text that falls back on love as the root of human action.
Like the main character I, too, fell in thrall with Claire - who only appears in tiny segments in a book that is ultimately about war, class and morality. He sees this bombastic French girl in class and falls for her, believing her to be the only woman worthy of him. She is bright, intelligent, dazzling - and dissapears into long conversations about the differences and similarities between the white and red armies. Both are armies, both are fighting a side, one is losing, one is winning. A deeply contemplative text that falls back on love as the root of human action.
September 22, 2024
鈥炐捫笛囆笛€ 褋 袣谢械褉鈥�, 袚邪泄褌芯 袚邪蟹写邪薪芯胁, 懈蟹写. 袗泻胁邪褉懈褍褋, 锌褉械胁芯写 袞械谢邪 袚械芯褉谐懈械胁邪.
袩褗褉胁懈褟褌 褉芯屑邪薪 薪邪 袚邪泄褌芯 袚邪蟹写邪薪芯胁, 锌褍斜谢懈泻褍胁邪胁褗胁 肖褉邪薪褑懈褟 锌褉械蟹 1930 谐. 袟邪 袚邪蟹写邪薪芯胁 屑薪芯谐芯 谢懈褌械褉邪褌褍褉芯胁械写懈 褋褔懈褌邪褌, 褔械 械 薪械写芯芯褑械薪械薪, 薪芯 屑薪芯谐芯 褌邪谢邪薪褌谢懈胁 屑谢邪写 邪胁褌芯褉. 小邪屑懈褟褌 褌芯泄 械 谢懈褕械薪 芯褌 泻芯褉械薪懈, 泻邪褌芯 屑薪芯谐芯 褏芯褉邪 薪邪 懈蟹泻褍褋褌胁芯褌芯, 懈蟹斜褟谐邪谢懈 芯褌 袪褍褋懈褟 胁 谐芯写懈薪懈褌械 褋谢械写 褉械胁芯谢褞褑懈褟褌邪 懈 谐褉邪卸写邪薪褋泻邪褌邪 胁芯泄薪邪. 孝芯泄 卸懈胁械械 胁 袩邪褉懈卸, 泻褗写械褌芯 蟹邪锌芯褔胁邪 写邪 褌胁芯褉懈.
袣薪懈谐邪褌邪 械 写械斜褞褌 蟹邪 袚邪蟹写邪薪芯胁 懈 写芯薪褟泻褗写械 械 邪胁褌芯斜懈芯谐褉邪褎懈褔薪芯 锌褉芯懈蟹胁械写械薪懈械; 蟹邪 屑械薪 写芯褉懈 薪芯褋械褕械 褍褋械褖邪薪械褌芯 蟹邪 写薪械胁薪懈泻, 懈蟹锌芯胁械写 锌褉械写 褔懈褌邪褌械谢褟. 小褞卸械褌褗褌 薪械 懈蟹谢懈蟹邪 芯褌 褉邪屑泻懈褌械 薪邪 械锌芯褏邪褌邪 鈥� 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟 蟹邪 薪械褋锌芯写械谢械薪邪 谢褞斜芯胁 懈 褌械褉蟹邪薪懈褟褌邪 薪邪 械写懈薪 屑谢邪写 屑褗卸.
袟邪 屑械薪 薪邪褔邪谢芯褌芯 薪邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟褌邪 斜械褕械 懈蟹泻谢褞褔懈褌械谢薪芯 褋懈谢薪芯, 懈 锌芯谐谢褗褖邪褏 褋褌褉邪薪懈褑懈褌械 薪械褍褋械褌薪芯. 袣谢械褉, 褋 泻芯褟褌芯 蟹邪锌芯褔胁邪 泻薪懈谐邪褌邪, 械 锌芯褔褌懈 屑懈褌懈褔薪邪 褎懈谐褍褉邪 蟹邪 袣芯谢褟; 褌褟 械 写芯褉懈 胁褉邪褌邪 泻褗屑 屑懈薪邪谢芯褌芯 懈 褋锌芯屑械薪懈褌械 屑褍. 袧械泄薪邪褌邪 褉芯谢褟 胁 泻薪懈谐邪褌邪 械 胁褌芯褉芯褋褌械锌械薪薪邪 鈥� 褌褟 械 锌褉芯褋褌芯 泻邪褌邪谢懈蟹邪褌芯褉 蟹邪 锌芯褌芯泻 芯褌 褋锌芯屑械薪懈, 蟹邪锌芯褔胁邪褖懈 芯褌 写械褌褋褌胁芯褌芯 懈 褋胁褗褉蟹胁邪褖懈 褋械 褋 褍褔邪褋褌懈械褌芯 胁 袪褍褋泻邪褌邪 谐褉邪卸写邪薪褋泻邪 胁芯泄薪邪, 泻芯谐邪褌芯 袣芯谢褟 械 械写胁邪 薪邪 褕械褋褌薪邪写械褋械褌 谐芯写懈薪懈. 袩褉械蟹 褑褟谢芯褌芯 胁褉械屑械 褔懈褌邪褌械谢褟褌 械 褋胁懈写械褌械谢 薪邪 薪邪褉邪褋褌胁邪褖芯 褔褍胁褋褌胁芯 薪邪 芯褌褔褍卸写械薪懈械 泻褗屑 褋械屑械泄褋褌胁芯褌芯, 褉芯写懈薪邪褌邪 懈 写芯褉懈 泻褗屑 褋邪屑懈褟 褋械斜械 褋懈.
袙 锌褗褉胁邪褌邪 锌芯谢芯胁懈薪邪 薪邪 泻薪懈谐邪褌邪, 写芯泻邪褌芯 胁褋械 芯褖械 芯锌芯蟹薪邪胁邪屑械 褏邪褉邪泻褌械褉邪 薪邪 薪械胁褉芯褌懈褔薪芯褌芯 屑芯屑褔械, 袚邪蟹写邪薪芯胁 褋懈 褋谢褍卸懈 褋 锌芯褉械写懈褑邪 芯褌 懈屑锌褉械褋懈芯薪懈褋褌懈褔薪懈 锌芯褏胁邪褌懈, 懈蟹锌褗谢薪械薪懈 褋 芯斜褗褉泻胁邪褖懈 芯斜褉邪蟹懈 懈 褋褗褋褌芯褟薪懈褟 薪邪 邪蟹邪, 泻芯懈褌芯 锌芯泻邪蟹胁邪褌 蟹邪褖芯 锌芯薪褟泻芯谐邪 械 薪邪褉懈褔邪薪 褉褍褋泻懈褟 袩褉褍褋褌. 袞械谢邪薪懈械褌芯 懈谐褉邪械 胁邪卸薪邪 褉芯谢褟 胁 褌械泻褋褌邪, 薪芯 褌芯胁邪 械 卸械谢邪薪懈械 蟹邪 写褉褍谐芯 屑褟褋褌芯, 蟹邪 薪械褖芯 卸邪写褍胁邪薪芯, 锌芯褔褌懈 薪械芯褋械蟹邪械屑芯, 薪械锌芯蟹薪邪褌芯, 泻芯械褌芯 谐械褉芯褟褌 薪械 屑芯卸械 写邪 写芯褋褌懈谐薪械 锌芯 胁褋褟泻芯 胁褉械屑械.
小褑械薪懈褌械 芯褌 写械褌褋褌胁芯褌芯 薪邪 袣芯谢褟 屑薪芯谐芯 屑械 胁锌械褔邪褌谢懈褏邪, 蟹邪 褉邪蟹谢懈泻邪 芯褌 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹邪, 褉邪蟹胁懈胁邪褖 褋械 锌芯 胁褉械屑械 薪邪 袚褉邪卸写邪薪褋泻邪褌邪 胁芯泄薪邪. 袩褉械写褋褌邪胁褟薪械褌芯 薪邪 胁芯械薪薪芯褌芯 胁褉械屑械 斜械褕械 谢懈褕械薪芯 芯褌 邪斜褋褌褉邪泻褑懈褟褌邪 懈 褍褋械褖邪薪械褌芯 蟹邪 斜械蟹胁褉械屑懈械. 袟邪 褋屑械褌泻邪 薪邪 褌芯胁邪 邪斜褋褍褉写薪懈褟褌 懈 屑褉邪褔械薪 褏褍屑芯褉 胁 芯锌懈褋邪薪懈械褌芯 薪邪 邪褉屑械泄褋泻懈褟 卸懈胁芯褌, 谢懈褕械薪芯 芯褌 谢懈褉懈褔薪懈褌械 芯锌懈褋邪薪懈褟 芯褌 锌褗褉胁邪褌邪 褔邪褋褌 鈥� 薪邪 锌械泄蟹邪卸懈 懈 写懈胁懈 卸懈胁芯褌薪懈 鈥� 蟹邪 屑械薪 斜械褕械 薪械写芯褋褌邪褌褗泻, 薪芯 锌褉械写锌芯谢邪谐邪屑, 褔械 蟹邪 写芯褋褌邪 褔懈褌邪褌械谢懈 褌芯胁邪 斜懈 斜懈谢芯 芯斜褉邪褌薪芯褌芯.
袚邪蟹写邪薪芯胁, 屑邪泻邪褉 写邪 薪械 械 锌芯谢懈褌懈褔械褋泻懈 芯斜胁褗褉蟹邪薪 懈 蟹邪褉邪写懈 屑谢邪写芯褋褌褌邪 褋懈, 褟褋薪芯 蟹邪褟胁褟胁邪 锌芯蟹懈褑懈褟褌邪, 褔械 胁芯泄薪邪褌邪 屑芯卸械 写邪 褉邪蟹褉褍褕懈 胁褋懈褔泻芯 芯泻芯谢芯 褋械斜械 褋懈. 袙 泻薪懈谐邪褌邪 懈屑邪 薪械屑邪谢泻芯 懈褋褌芯褉懈褔械褋泻懈 锌芯写褉芯斜薪芯褋褌懈, 懈 褋锌芯褉械写 屑械薪, 邪泻芯 褔懈褌邪褌械谢褟褌 薪械 薪邪锌褉邪胁懈 泻褉邪褌泻芯 锌褉芯褍褔胁邪薪械 蟹邪 锌械褉懈芯写邪, 褔械褌械薪械褌芯 屑芯卸械 写邪 褋械 芯泻邪卸械 锌褉械写懈蟹胁懈泻邪褌械谢褋褌胁芯 蟹邪 胁褋械泻懈, 泻芯泄褌芯 薪械 械 蟹邪锌芯蟹薪邪褌 褋 褌械蟹懈 褋褗斜懈褌懈褟. 袟邪 褋屑械褌泻邪 薪邪 褌芯胁邪, 锌褗褉胁邪褌邪 褔邪褋褌 懈 写械褌褋泻懈褌械 谐芯写懈薪懈 褋邪 锌芯-械谢懈锌褌懈褔薪懈 懈 芯斜褖芯褔芯胁械褕泻懈.
袨褔械胁懈写薪芯 械, 褔械 褌胁芯褉褔械褋褌胁芯褌芯 薪邪 袚邪蟹写邪薪芯胁 薪械 褌褉褟斜胁邪 写邪 芯褋褌邪薪械 薪械芯褑械薪械薪芯, 薪芯 邪蟹 薪械 褍褋锌褟褏 写邪 芯褌泻褉懈褟 胁 薪械谐芯 谐芯谢褟屑邪褌邪 写褗谢斜芯褔懈薪邪 薪邪 邪胁褌芯褉懈, 褌胁芯褉懈谢懈 锌芯 褋褗褖芯褌芯 胁褉械屑械. 袩褉械蟹 谐芯谢褟屑邪 褔邪褋褌 芯褌 褌械泻褋褌邪 懈屑邪褏 褍褋械褖邪薪械褌芯 蟹邪 薪械蟹褉褟谢芯褋褌, 蟹邪 斜褗褉蟹邪薪械 鈥� 褋褟泻邪褕 邪胁褌芯褉褗褌 懈褋泻邪 写邪 薪懈 泻邪卸械 褌芯谢泻芯胁邪 屑薪芯谐芯, 薪芯 薪械 褍褋锌褟胁邪 写邪 褋褌褉褍泻褌褍褉懈褉邪 懈 褍褋锌芯泻芯懈 械屑芯褑懈懈褌械 褋懈, 蟹邪 写邪 锌芯写薪械褋械 泻芯褏械褉械薪褌械薪 褌械泻褋褌. 袟邪 褋褗卸邪谢械薪懈械, 蟹邪 袚邪蟹写邪薪芯胁 薪褟屑邪 屑薪芯谐芯 懈薪褎芯褉屑邪褑懈褟, 屑邪泻邪褉 褔械 褌褗褉褋懈褏 泻邪泻褌芯 斜褗谢谐邪褉褋泻懈, 褌邪泻邪 懈 邪薪谐谢懈泄褋泻懈 懈蟹褌芯褔薪懈褑懈. 小锌芯褉械写 屑械薪 懈屑邪 屑薪芯谐芯 薪械懈蟹泻邪蟹邪薪芯 胁褗胁 胁褉褗蟹泻邪 褋褗褋 褋械屑械泄褋褌胁芯褌芯 懈 锌褋懈褏懈褔薪芯褌芯 屑褍 褋褗褋褌芯褟薪懈械, 泻芯械褌芯 胁械褉芯褟褌薪芯, 褋 锌芯胁械褔械 泻芯薪褌械泻褋褌 芯褌 邪胁褌芯斜懈芯谐褉邪褎懈褟, 褖械褕械 写邪 屑懈 锌芯屑芯谐薪械 写邪 鈥炐垦€芯褋褌褟鈥� 褌邪蟹懈 锌褉褟屑芯褌邪 薪邪 褌胁芯褉斜邪褌邪.
袩褗褉胁懈褟褌 褉芯屑邪薪 薪邪 袚邪泄褌芯 袚邪蟹写邪薪芯胁, 锌褍斜谢懈泻褍胁邪胁褗胁 肖褉邪薪褑懈褟 锌褉械蟹 1930 谐. 袟邪 袚邪蟹写邪薪芯胁 屑薪芯谐芯 谢懈褌械褉邪褌褍褉芯胁械写懈 褋褔懈褌邪褌, 褔械 械 薪械写芯芯褑械薪械薪, 薪芯 屑薪芯谐芯 褌邪谢邪薪褌谢懈胁 屑谢邪写 邪胁褌芯褉. 小邪屑懈褟褌 褌芯泄 械 谢懈褕械薪 芯褌 泻芯褉械薪懈, 泻邪褌芯 屑薪芯谐芯 褏芯褉邪 薪邪 懈蟹泻褍褋褌胁芯褌芯, 懈蟹斜褟谐邪谢懈 芯褌 袪褍褋懈褟 胁 谐芯写懈薪懈褌械 褋谢械写 褉械胁芯谢褞褑懈褟褌邪 懈 谐褉邪卸写邪薪褋泻邪褌邪 胁芯泄薪邪. 孝芯泄 卸懈胁械械 胁 袩邪褉懈卸, 泻褗写械褌芯 蟹邪锌芯褔胁邪 写邪 褌胁芯褉懈.
袣薪懈谐邪褌邪 械 写械斜褞褌 蟹邪 袚邪蟹写邪薪芯胁 懈 写芯薪褟泻褗写械 械 邪胁褌芯斜懈芯谐褉邪褎懈褔薪芯 锌褉芯懈蟹胁械写械薪懈械; 蟹邪 屑械薪 写芯褉懈 薪芯褋械褕械 褍褋械褖邪薪械褌芯 蟹邪 写薪械胁薪懈泻, 懈蟹锌芯胁械写 锌褉械写 褔懈褌邪褌械谢褟. 小褞卸械褌褗褌 薪械 懈蟹谢懈蟹邪 芯褌 褉邪屑泻懈褌械 薪邪 械锌芯褏邪褌邪 鈥� 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟 蟹邪 薪械褋锌芯写械谢械薪邪 谢褞斜芯胁 懈 褌械褉蟹邪薪懈褟褌邪 薪邪 械写懈薪 屑谢邪写 屑褗卸.
袟邪 屑械薪 薪邪褔邪谢芯褌芯 薪邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟褌邪 斜械褕械 懈蟹泻谢褞褔懈褌械谢薪芯 褋懈谢薪芯, 懈 锌芯谐谢褗褖邪褏 褋褌褉邪薪懈褑懈褌械 薪械褍褋械褌薪芯. 袣谢械褉, 褋 泻芯褟褌芯 蟹邪锌芯褔胁邪 泻薪懈谐邪褌邪, 械 锌芯褔褌懈 屑懈褌懈褔薪邪 褎懈谐褍褉邪 蟹邪 袣芯谢褟; 褌褟 械 写芯褉懈 胁褉邪褌邪 泻褗屑 屑懈薪邪谢芯褌芯 懈 褋锌芯屑械薪懈褌械 屑褍. 袧械泄薪邪褌邪 褉芯谢褟 胁 泻薪懈谐邪褌邪 械 胁褌芯褉芯褋褌械锌械薪薪邪 鈥� 褌褟 械 锌褉芯褋褌芯 泻邪褌邪谢懈蟹邪褌芯褉 蟹邪 锌芯褌芯泻 芯褌 褋锌芯屑械薪懈, 蟹邪锌芯褔胁邪褖懈 芯褌 写械褌褋褌胁芯褌芯 懈 褋胁褗褉蟹胁邪褖懈 褋械 褋 褍褔邪褋褌懈械褌芯 胁 袪褍褋泻邪褌邪 谐褉邪卸写邪薪褋泻邪 胁芯泄薪邪, 泻芯谐邪褌芯 袣芯谢褟 械 械写胁邪 薪邪 褕械褋褌薪邪写械褋械褌 谐芯写懈薪懈. 袩褉械蟹 褑褟谢芯褌芯 胁褉械屑械 褔懈褌邪褌械谢褟褌 械 褋胁懈写械褌械谢 薪邪 薪邪褉邪褋褌胁邪褖芯 褔褍胁褋褌胁芯 薪邪 芯褌褔褍卸写械薪懈械 泻褗屑 褋械屑械泄褋褌胁芯褌芯, 褉芯写懈薪邪褌邪 懈 写芯褉懈 泻褗屑 褋邪屑懈褟 褋械斜械 褋懈.
袙 锌褗褉胁邪褌邪 锌芯谢芯胁懈薪邪 薪邪 泻薪懈谐邪褌邪, 写芯泻邪褌芯 胁褋械 芯褖械 芯锌芯蟹薪邪胁邪屑械 褏邪褉邪泻褌械褉邪 薪邪 薪械胁褉芯褌懈褔薪芯褌芯 屑芯屑褔械, 袚邪蟹写邪薪芯胁 褋懈 褋谢褍卸懈 褋 锌芯褉械写懈褑邪 芯褌 懈屑锌褉械褋懈芯薪懈褋褌懈褔薪懈 锌芯褏胁邪褌懈, 懈蟹锌褗谢薪械薪懈 褋 芯斜褗褉泻胁邪褖懈 芯斜褉邪蟹懈 懈 褋褗褋褌芯褟薪懈褟 薪邪 邪蟹邪, 泻芯懈褌芯 锌芯泻邪蟹胁邪褌 蟹邪褖芯 锌芯薪褟泻芯谐邪 械 薪邪褉懈褔邪薪 褉褍褋泻懈褟 袩褉褍褋褌. 袞械谢邪薪懈械褌芯 懈谐褉邪械 胁邪卸薪邪 褉芯谢褟 胁 褌械泻褋褌邪, 薪芯 褌芯胁邪 械 卸械谢邪薪懈械 蟹邪 写褉褍谐芯 屑褟褋褌芯, 蟹邪 薪械褖芯 卸邪写褍胁邪薪芯, 锌芯褔褌懈 薪械芯褋械蟹邪械屑芯, 薪械锌芯蟹薪邪褌芯, 泻芯械褌芯 谐械褉芯褟褌 薪械 屑芯卸械 写邪 写芯褋褌懈谐薪械 锌芯 胁褋褟泻芯 胁褉械屑械.
小褑械薪懈褌械 芯褌 写械褌褋褌胁芯褌芯 薪邪 袣芯谢褟 屑薪芯谐芯 屑械 胁锌械褔邪褌谢懈褏邪, 蟹邪 褉邪蟹谢懈泻邪 芯褌 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹邪, 褉邪蟹胁懈胁邪褖 褋械 锌芯 胁褉械屑械 薪邪 袚褉邪卸写邪薪褋泻邪褌邪 胁芯泄薪邪. 袩褉械写褋褌邪胁褟薪械褌芯 薪邪 胁芯械薪薪芯褌芯 胁褉械屑械 斜械褕械 谢懈褕械薪芯 芯褌 邪斜褋褌褉邪泻褑懈褟褌邪 懈 褍褋械褖邪薪械褌芯 蟹邪 斜械蟹胁褉械屑懈械. 袟邪 褋屑械褌泻邪 薪邪 褌芯胁邪 邪斜褋褍褉写薪懈褟褌 懈 屑褉邪褔械薪 褏褍屑芯褉 胁 芯锌懈褋邪薪懈械褌芯 薪邪 邪褉屑械泄褋泻懈褟 卸懈胁芯褌, 谢懈褕械薪芯 芯褌 谢懈褉懈褔薪懈褌械 芯锌懈褋邪薪懈褟 芯褌 锌褗褉胁邪褌邪 褔邪褋褌 鈥� 薪邪 锌械泄蟹邪卸懈 懈 写懈胁懈 卸懈胁芯褌薪懈 鈥� 蟹邪 屑械薪 斜械褕械 薪械写芯褋褌邪褌褗泻, 薪芯 锌褉械写锌芯谢邪谐邪屑, 褔械 蟹邪 写芯褋褌邪 褔懈褌邪褌械谢懈 褌芯胁邪 斜懈 斜懈谢芯 芯斜褉邪褌薪芯褌芯.
袚邪蟹写邪薪芯胁, 屑邪泻邪褉 写邪 薪械 械 锌芯谢懈褌懈褔械褋泻懈 芯斜胁褗褉蟹邪薪 懈 蟹邪褉邪写懈 屑谢邪写芯褋褌褌邪 褋懈, 褟褋薪芯 蟹邪褟胁褟胁邪 锌芯蟹懈褑懈褟褌邪, 褔械 胁芯泄薪邪褌邪 屑芯卸械 写邪 褉邪蟹褉褍褕懈 胁褋懈褔泻芯 芯泻芯谢芯 褋械斜械 褋懈. 袙 泻薪懈谐邪褌邪 懈屑邪 薪械屑邪谢泻芯 懈褋褌芯褉懈褔械褋泻懈 锌芯写褉芯斜薪芯褋褌懈, 懈 褋锌芯褉械写 屑械薪, 邪泻芯 褔懈褌邪褌械谢褟褌 薪械 薪邪锌褉邪胁懈 泻褉邪褌泻芯 锌褉芯褍褔胁邪薪械 蟹邪 锌械褉懈芯写邪, 褔械褌械薪械褌芯 屑芯卸械 写邪 褋械 芯泻邪卸械 锌褉械写懈蟹胁懈泻邪褌械谢褋褌胁芯 蟹邪 胁褋械泻懈, 泻芯泄褌芯 薪械 械 蟹邪锌芯蟹薪邪褌 褋 褌械蟹懈 褋褗斜懈褌懈褟. 袟邪 褋屑械褌泻邪 薪邪 褌芯胁邪, 锌褗褉胁邪褌邪 褔邪褋褌 懈 写械褌褋泻懈褌械 谐芯写懈薪懈 褋邪 锌芯-械谢懈锌褌懈褔薪懈 懈 芯斜褖芯褔芯胁械褕泻懈.
袨褔械胁懈写薪芯 械, 褔械 褌胁芯褉褔械褋褌胁芯褌芯 薪邪 袚邪蟹写邪薪芯胁 薪械 褌褉褟斜胁邪 写邪 芯褋褌邪薪械 薪械芯褑械薪械薪芯, 薪芯 邪蟹 薪械 褍褋锌褟褏 写邪 芯褌泻褉懈褟 胁 薪械谐芯 谐芯谢褟屑邪褌邪 写褗谢斜芯褔懈薪邪 薪邪 邪胁褌芯褉懈, 褌胁芯褉懈谢懈 锌芯 褋褗褖芯褌芯 胁褉械屑械. 袩褉械蟹 谐芯谢褟屑邪 褔邪褋褌 芯褌 褌械泻褋褌邪 懈屑邪褏 褍褋械褖邪薪械褌芯 蟹邪 薪械蟹褉褟谢芯褋褌, 蟹邪 斜褗褉蟹邪薪械 鈥� 褋褟泻邪褕 邪胁褌芯褉褗褌 懈褋泻邪 写邪 薪懈 泻邪卸械 褌芯谢泻芯胁邪 屑薪芯谐芯, 薪芯 薪械 褍褋锌褟胁邪 写邪 褋褌褉褍泻褌褍褉懈褉邪 懈 褍褋锌芯泻芯懈 械屑芯褑懈懈褌械 褋懈, 蟹邪 写邪 锌芯写薪械褋械 泻芯褏械褉械薪褌械薪 褌械泻褋褌. 袟邪 褋褗卸邪谢械薪懈械, 蟹邪 袚邪蟹写邪薪芯胁 薪褟屑邪 屑薪芯谐芯 懈薪褎芯褉屑邪褑懈褟, 屑邪泻邪褉 褔械 褌褗褉褋懈褏 泻邪泻褌芯 斜褗谢谐邪褉褋泻懈, 褌邪泻邪 懈 邪薪谐谢懈泄褋泻懈 懈蟹褌芯褔薪懈褑懈. 小锌芯褉械写 屑械薪 懈屑邪 屑薪芯谐芯 薪械懈蟹泻邪蟹邪薪芯 胁褗胁 胁褉褗蟹泻邪 褋褗褋 褋械屑械泄褋褌胁芯褌芯 懈 锌褋懈褏懈褔薪芯褌芯 屑褍 褋褗褋褌芯褟薪懈械, 泻芯械褌芯 胁械褉芯褟褌薪芯, 褋 锌芯胁械褔械 泻芯薪褌械泻褋褌 芯褌 邪胁褌芯斜懈芯谐褉邪褎懈褟, 褖械褕械 写邪 屑懈 锌芯屑芯谐薪械 写邪 鈥炐垦€芯褋褌褟鈥� 褌邪蟹懈 锌褉褟屑芯褌邪 薪邪 褌胁芯褉斜邪褌邪.
February 27, 2021
3,5 馃専 蟿慰 未喂维尾伪蟽伪 渭蔚 蔚谓未喂伪蠁苇蟻慰谓 魏伪喂 蟺蟻慰蟽未慰魏蠋 伪魏蠈渭伪 蟺蔚蟻喂蟽蟽蠈蟿蔚蟻伪 伪蟺蠈 韦慰 桅维谓蟿伪蟽渭伪 蟿慰蠀 螒位蔚尉维谓蟿蔚蟻 螔慰位蠁!
January 16, 2019
螣 未蔚尉喂慰蟿苇蠂谓畏蟼 Gazdanov 蠀蠁伪喂谓蔚喂 渭喂伪 蟽蠂蔚未慰谓 魏喂谓畏渭伪蟿慰纬蟻伪蠁喂魏萎 伪蠀蟿慰尾喂慰纬蟻伪蠁喂魏萎 魏伪喂 伪蠀蟿慰伪谓伪蠁慰蟻喂魏萎 蔚尉喂蟽蟿慰蟻畏蟽畏 蟿畏蟼 味蠅萎蟼 蟿慰蠀, 蟿蠅谓 魏慰喂谓蠅谓喂魏蠋谓 胃蔚蟽渭蠋谓 魏伪喂 蟿畏蟼 螜蟽蟿慰蟻委伪蟼 蟽蟿畏谓 慰蟺慰委伪 蠀蟺萎蟻尉蔚 蔚谓蔚蟻纬蠈 渭蔚蟻慰蟼 蟿畏蟼. 韦伪 蟿慰蟺委伪, 蟿伪 蟺蟻蠈蟽蠅蟺伪, 伪魏蠈渭畏 魏伪喂 慰 纬蟻伪渭渭喂魏蠈蟼 蠂蟻蠈谓慰蟼 魏蠀位慰蠉谓 蟺维谓蠅 蟽蟿喂蟼 蟻维纬蔚蟼 蟿畏蟼 蟺蟻慰蟽蠅蟺喂魏萎蟼 魏伪喂 魏慰喂谓蠅谓喂魏萎蟼 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪蟼 蟿畏蟼 危慰尾喂蔚蟿喂魏萎蟼 螆谓蠅蟽畏蟼, 蠈蟺蠅蟼 蟿慰 胃蠅蟻伪魏喂蟽渭苇谓慰 蟿蟻苇谓慰 蟽蟿慰 慰蟺慰委慰 蔚蟺喂尾喂尾维味蔚蟿伪喂 慰 螝蠈位喂伪. 螚 蔚蟺喂谓蠈畏蟽畏 蟿慰蠀 Gazdanov 蟿畏蟼 蟽蠀谓维谓蟿畏蟽畏蟼 渭喂伪蟼 尾蟻伪未喂维蟼 渭蔚 蟿畏谓 螝位伪喂蟻, 蟿慰蠀 蔚蠁畏尾喂魏慰蠉 苇蟻蠅蟿伪 蟿慰蠀 螝蠈位喂伪, 魏维蟺慰蠀 蟽蟿慰 螤伪蟻委蟽喂, 纬喂伪 谓伪 蟿慰位渭萎蟽蠅 谓伪 蠂蟻畏蟽喂渭慰蟺慰喂萎蟽蠅 魏喂谓畏渭伪蟿慰纬蟻伪蠁喂魏慰蠉蟼 蠈蟻慰蠀蟼, 蟺蟻慰蟽胃苇蟿蔚喂 苇谓伪 未蟻伪渭伪蟿喂魏蠈 蟿蠈谓慰 蟽蟿慰 flashback 蟺慰蠀 伪魏慰位慰蠀胃蔚委 渭蔚 蟽蔚魏伪谓蟼 蟺慰蠀 蔚委谓伪喂 未蔚渭苇谓蔚蟼 蟿蠈蟽慰 蠀蠁慰位慰纬喂魏维 蠈蟽慰 魏伪喂 蟿蔚蠂谓喂魏维, 伪魏蠈渭伪 魏伪喂 蟽蟿畏谓 蠀蟺慰魏蔚喂渭蔚谓喂魏蠈蟿畏蟿伪 蟺慰蠀 蟽蔚 蟺慰位位维 蟽畏渭蔚委伪 蠂蟻畏蟽喂渭慰蟺慰喂蔚委 蟽蟿畏谓 伪蠁萎纬畏蟽畏 蟿慰蠀 慰 Gazdanov. 螒谓 魏伪喂 伪蟻蠂喂魏维 畏 渭蔚蟿伪蠁蟻伪蟽畏 魏伪喂 畏 蔚蟺喂渭苇位蔚喂伪 蟽蟿畏谓 伪蟻蠂萎 未蔚谓 渭蔚 魏伪位蠀蠄伪谓 蟺位萎蟻蠅蟼, 魏伪喂 魏蠀蟻委蠅蟼 纬喂伪蟿喂 渭蔚 蔚委蠂蔚 纬慰畏蟿蔚蠀蟽蔚喂 "韦慰 桅伪谓蟿伪蟽渭伪 蟿慰蠀 螒位蔚尉伪谓蟿蔚蟻 螔慰位蠁", 蟽蟿畏 蟽蠀谓苇蠂蔚喂伪 慰喂 纬慰畏蟿蔚蠀蟿喂魏苇蟼 蔚喂魏蠈谓蔚蟼 魏伪喂 慰 委未喂慰蟼 慰 螝蠈位喂伪 渭蔚 魏苇蟻未喂蟽伪谓. 螒谓蟿喂魏蔚喂渭蔚谓喂魏维, 畏 蔚蟺喂位慰纬萎 蟿慰蠀 蠈渭慰蟻蠁慰蠀 蔚尉蠋蠁蠀位位慰蠀 (渭蔚 蟿慰 蟽魏委蟿蟽慰 渭喂伪蟼 伪蟿渭慰渭畏蠂伪谓萎蟼 蟿畏蟼 危慰尾喂蔚蟿喂魏萎蟼 螆谓蠅蟽畏蟼, 蠈蟺蠅蟼 魏伪喂 蟿慰 蟺伪喂蠂谓委未喂 渭蔚 蟿慰蠀蟼 魏慰魏魏喂谓慰-渭伪蠀蟻慰蠀蟼 蠂蟻蠅渭伪蟿喂蟽渭慰蠉蟼) 蔚委谓伪喂 蔚渭蟺谓蔚蠀蟽渭苇谓畏, 魏伪胃蠋蟼 蟿伪喂蟻喂维味蔚喂 渭蔚 慰位慰 蟿慰 渭慰蟿委尾慰 魏伪喂 蟿慰 蟻蠀胃渭蠈 蟿畏蟼 喂蟽蟿慰蟻喂伪蟼 蟿慰蠀 萎蟻蠅伪. 违蟺慰魏蔚喂渭蔚谓喂魏维 蟿蠅蟻伪, 蟿慰 尾喂尾位喂慰 渭蔚 魏苇蟻未喂蟽蔚 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏 渭蔚蟽畏 魏伪喂 渭蔚蟿伪. 螘委蠂蔚 蟺蔚蟻喂蟽蟽慰蟿蔚蟻慰 未蠀谓伪渭喂魏萎 魏伪喂 未蟻维蟽畏. 螚渭慰蠀谓 蟿蠀蠂蔚蟻畏 纬喂伪蟿喂 蟿慰 未喂伪尾伪蟽伪 渭蔚蟽伪 蟽蔚 蟿蟻蔚谓慰 蟺慰蠀 未喂蔚蟽蠂喂味蔚 魏蟻蠀慰 魏伪喂 蠂喂慰谓喂蟽渭蔚谓伪 蟿慰蟺喂伪, 渭蔚 蟺蟻慰慰蟻喂蟽渭蠈 蟿畏 螠伪蠉蟻畏 螛维位伪蟽蟽伪, 蠈蠂喂 蟺慰位蠀 渭伪魏蟻喂伪 伪蟺蠈 蔚魏蔚喂 蟺慰蠀 尾蟻蔚胃畏魏蔚 慰 螝蠈位喂伪. 螣喂 蟽畏渭蔚喂蠋蟽蔚喂蟼 纬喂伪 蟿慰 蟽蠀纬魏蔚魏蟻喂渭蔚谓慰 尾喂尾位喂慰 未蔚谓 蠂蟻蔚喂伪味慰蟿伪谓 谓伪 尾蟻喂蟽魏慰谓蟿伪喂 蟽蟿慰 蟿蔚位慰蟼 蔚喂未喂魏维 蠈蟿伪谓 蔚蟺蟻蠈魏蔚喂蟿慰 纬喂伪 伪蟺位萎 纬伪位位喂魏畏 渭蔚蟿伪蠁蟻伪蟽畏 蠁蟻维蟽蔚蠅谓, 慰喂 慰蟺慰喂蔚蟼 胃伪 渭蟺慰蟻慰蠀蟽伪谓 谓伪 蔚谓蟿伪蠂胃慰蠀谓 渭蔚蟽伪 蟽蟿慰 魏蔚喂渭蔚谓慰. 违螕 螡伪 蟿慰 未喂伪尾伪蟽蔚喂蟼 纬喂伪蟿喂 蟽慰蠀 伪蟻蔚蟽蔚 谓伪 蟿伪尉喂未蔚蠄蔚喂蟼 蟽蟿慰 蟺伪蟻蔚位胃慰谓 蟽慰蠀 魏伪喂 蔚蟽蠀 慰蟺蠅蟼 慰 螝慰位喂伪. 螡伪 蟿慰 未喂伪尾伪蟽蔚喂蟼 伪谓 蟽慰蠀 伪蟻蔚蟽慰蠀谓 蟿伪 蟿伪尉喂未喂伪 渭蔚 蟿蟻蔚谓慰 魏伪喂 慰喂 蔚蠁畏尾喂魏慰喂 蔚蟻蠅蟿蔚蟼.
July 10, 2020
Me record贸 mucho a Andrei Biely, en Yo, Kotik Letayev, una parte importante del libro son los recuerdos de infancia del protagonista, esto da mucha idea de c贸mo es que lo que sucede tiene una trascendencia en 茅l. Un libro de recuerdos, de aqu铆 para all谩. Hubo algo que no me gust贸 especialmente, es que la edici贸n que le铆 ten铆a muchos di谩logos en franc茅s, y uno se ten铆a que mover de p谩ginas para leerlo, eso me pareci贸 un poco fastidioso, pero en general me pareci贸 bueno, profundo, el personaje principal es muy consistente y es inevitable tener algo en com煤n.
April 28, 2018
A wonderful translation. The prose has a dreamlike quality that floats between dreams, memories, and the present. Every part of the book, from the wistful romance, the memories of boyhood, and the Civil War stands on their own. My favorite is the monologue of Vitaly, his uncle, to the 16 year soldier to be.
December 8, 2012
"袘褘谢芯 芯褔械薪褜 卸邪褉泻芯 懈 褌懈褏芯; 懈 屑薪械 泻邪蟹邪谢芯褋褜, 褔褌芯 胁 褝褌芯泄 褋芯谢薪械褔薪芯泄 褌懈褕懈薪械, 薪邪写 褋懈薪懈屑 屑芯褉械屑 褍屑懈褉邪械褌 胁 褋胁械褌谢芯屑 胁芯蟹写褍褏械 泻邪泻芯械-褌芯 锌褉芯蟹褉邪褔薪芯械 斜芯卸械褋褌胁芯."
October 16, 2023
协屑懈谐褉邪薪褌褋泻邪褟 屑械谢邪薪褏芯谢懈褟, 薪邪斜芯泻芯胁褋泻懈泄 褟蟹褘泻, 褟褉泻懈械 卸械薪褋泻懈械 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸懈. 袧械写芯褉邪蟹褍屑械薪懈械, 褔褌芯 袚邪蟹写邪薪芯胁邪 薪械褌 胁 褕泻芯谢褜薪芯泄 锌褉芯谐褉邪屑屑械.
February 7, 2017
Back in 2013, I was captivated by Gaito Gazdanov鈥檚 The Spectre of Alexander Wolf (1947), an existential novel that explored questions of coincidence, fate, love and death. I read it pre-blog, but it鈥檚 been widely reviewed elsewhere. Originally published in 1930, An Evening with Claire was Gazdanov鈥檚 first novel, written during his time as a Russian 茅migr茅 in Paris. It was an instant success, resonating strongly with the displaced population across Europe as a whole. In writing this novel, Gazdanov drew heavily on his own life via a series of memories covering his childhood, his time in the Russian Civil War and his impressions of an enigmatic young woman named Claire, the figure captured in the book鈥檚 title.
As the novel opens, the narrator 鈥� a young man named Sosedov, but referred to as Kolya throughout 鈥� has recently reconnected with Claire, a French woman he first met some ten years earlier in 1917. Kolya has been spending his evenings with Claire at her home in Paris, the lady鈥檚 husband being away on an extended trip to Ceylon. While Claire sleeps, Kolya reflects on the time he has spent desiring her over the years, the woman who has occupied his mind for the past decade.
Surrendering to the power of sleep, or sadness, or yet another emotion, no matter how strong the emotion was she never ceased being herself; and it seemed that the mightiest tremors were powerless to alert this perfectly completed body, could never destroy this final invincible charm which had induced me to waste ten years of my life in pursuit of Claire, and which had made it impossible for me to get her out of my mind at any time, any place. (p. 28)
This process triggers a series of memories for Kolya as he gradually comes to remember everything that has happened in his life, particularly the events of his first eighteen years. While the difficulty of understanding and articulating everything seems immense, Kolya proceeds to explore his childhood and adolescence through a stream of associations, moving seamlessly from one recollection to another over the course of the novel. We hear of the young boy鈥檚 close relationship with his father, a man obsessed with fires and hunting, a man whom Kolya loved very dearly at the time. By contrast, Kolya鈥檚 mother is portrayed as a relatively cold and controlled woman, someone who showed little warmth and affection in her dealings with the children. Nevertheless, Kolya respected her a great deal.
From a relatively early age, Kolya鈥檚 life was marked by the shadow of death. He was just eight years old when his father died, and by the time of the Great War both of his sisters had followed suit.
Death was never far away, and the abyss into which my imagination plunged me seemed to belong to it. I think this feeling was hereditary: It was not for nothing that my father so violently detested everything that reminded him of the inevitable end; this fearless man felt his weakness here. It was as though my mother鈥檚 unconscious, cold indifference reflected someone鈥檚 final stillness, and the ravenous memories which my sisters possessed absorbed everything into themselves so quickly because, somewhere in their distant foreboding, death already existed. (p. 60)
As a consequence, Kolya was left alone with his mother, a woman who struggled to come to terms with the losses that had touched her family.
At various times during his childhood, Kolya felt as though he was turning in on himself, a process which left him somewhat immune to the external events that were happening around him. This feeling emerged once again when Kolya was sent to military school, a place he disliked a great deal. Given that the other cadets seemed so different, Kolya kept his distance from the rest of the pack, a move that also caused him to develop an instinct for self-preservation when dealing with his tutors.
The novel touches on various stories and anecdotes from Kolya鈥檚 time at both the military school and the gymnasium that followed, too many to capture here. While several of these memories are melancholy in tone, there are recollections of happier times as well: the summers Kolya spent at his grandfather鈥檚 house in Caucasus where many of his father鈥檚 relatives also lived; memories of Claire too, especially Kolya鈥檚 first encounter with her at the tennis courts of the gymnastics society (Kolya was around fourteen at the time). From the moment he first set eyes on eighteen-year-old Claire, Kolya was captivated by her presence. A native of Paris, Claire had travelled to Russia with her family; her father, a merchant, had a base in Ukraine which he visited every now and again. Kolya and the coquettish Claire spent much of the summer together, laughing and joking at Claire鈥檚 house. Even so, Kolya was acutely aware of Claire鈥檚 blossoming sexuality, something he did not fully understand at the time despite being able to feel it. By late autumn that year, Claire had all but disappeared from Kolya鈥檚 life, a development which left the young boy feeling rather bereft.
To read the rest of my review, please click here:
As the novel opens, the narrator 鈥� a young man named Sosedov, but referred to as Kolya throughout 鈥� has recently reconnected with Claire, a French woman he first met some ten years earlier in 1917. Kolya has been spending his evenings with Claire at her home in Paris, the lady鈥檚 husband being away on an extended trip to Ceylon. While Claire sleeps, Kolya reflects on the time he has spent desiring her over the years, the woman who has occupied his mind for the past decade.
Surrendering to the power of sleep, or sadness, or yet another emotion, no matter how strong the emotion was she never ceased being herself; and it seemed that the mightiest tremors were powerless to alert this perfectly completed body, could never destroy this final invincible charm which had induced me to waste ten years of my life in pursuit of Claire, and which had made it impossible for me to get her out of my mind at any time, any place. (p. 28)
This process triggers a series of memories for Kolya as he gradually comes to remember everything that has happened in his life, particularly the events of his first eighteen years. While the difficulty of understanding and articulating everything seems immense, Kolya proceeds to explore his childhood and adolescence through a stream of associations, moving seamlessly from one recollection to another over the course of the novel. We hear of the young boy鈥檚 close relationship with his father, a man obsessed with fires and hunting, a man whom Kolya loved very dearly at the time. By contrast, Kolya鈥檚 mother is portrayed as a relatively cold and controlled woman, someone who showed little warmth and affection in her dealings with the children. Nevertheless, Kolya respected her a great deal.
From a relatively early age, Kolya鈥檚 life was marked by the shadow of death. He was just eight years old when his father died, and by the time of the Great War both of his sisters had followed suit.
Death was never far away, and the abyss into which my imagination plunged me seemed to belong to it. I think this feeling was hereditary: It was not for nothing that my father so violently detested everything that reminded him of the inevitable end; this fearless man felt his weakness here. It was as though my mother鈥檚 unconscious, cold indifference reflected someone鈥檚 final stillness, and the ravenous memories which my sisters possessed absorbed everything into themselves so quickly because, somewhere in their distant foreboding, death already existed. (p. 60)
As a consequence, Kolya was left alone with his mother, a woman who struggled to come to terms with the losses that had touched her family.
At various times during his childhood, Kolya felt as though he was turning in on himself, a process which left him somewhat immune to the external events that were happening around him. This feeling emerged once again when Kolya was sent to military school, a place he disliked a great deal. Given that the other cadets seemed so different, Kolya kept his distance from the rest of the pack, a move that also caused him to develop an instinct for self-preservation when dealing with his tutors.
The novel touches on various stories and anecdotes from Kolya鈥檚 time at both the military school and the gymnasium that followed, too many to capture here. While several of these memories are melancholy in tone, there are recollections of happier times as well: the summers Kolya spent at his grandfather鈥檚 house in Caucasus where many of his father鈥檚 relatives also lived; memories of Claire too, especially Kolya鈥檚 first encounter with her at the tennis courts of the gymnastics society (Kolya was around fourteen at the time). From the moment he first set eyes on eighteen-year-old Claire, Kolya was captivated by her presence. A native of Paris, Claire had travelled to Russia with her family; her father, a merchant, had a base in Ukraine which he visited every now and again. Kolya and the coquettish Claire spent much of the summer together, laughing and joking at Claire鈥檚 house. Even so, Kolya was acutely aware of Claire鈥檚 blossoming sexuality, something he did not fully understand at the time despite being able to feel it. By late autumn that year, Claire had all but disappeared from Kolya鈥檚 life, a development which left the young boy feeling rather bereft.
To read the rest of my review, please click here:
March 12, 2018
袩芯谢褍褔懈谢邪 薪械胁械褉芯褟褌薪芯械 褍写芯胁芯谢褜褋褌胁懈械 芯褌 褝锟斤拷芯泄 泻薪懈谐懈. 袣褉邪褋懈胁褘泄, 薪芯 斜械蟹 懈蟹谢懈褕薪懈褏 泻褉邪褋懈胁芯褋褌械泄, 褉褍褋褋泻懈泄 褟蟹褘泻; 芯褋褌褉褘械 薪邪斜谢褞写械薪懈褟, 褌芯褔薪褘械 芯锌懈褋邪薪懈褟, 锌芯褝褌懈褔械褋泻懈械 屑械褌邪褎芯褉褘. 袨褖褍褖械薪懈械, 斜褍写褌芯 褔懈褌邪械褕褜 锌芯褝屑褍 胁 锌褉芯蟹械. 小褞卸械褌 谢懈褕褜 薪邪屑械褔械薪 谐褉褍斜褘屑懈 屑邪蟹泻邪屑懈, 邪泻褑械薪褌 - 薪械 薪邪 胁薪械褕薪懈械 褋芯斜褘褌懈褟 懈 写械泄褋褌胁懈褟, 邪 薪邪 胁薪褍褌褉械薪薪褞褞 卸懈蟹薪褜 褉邪褋褋泻邪蟹褔懈泻邪 懈 薪邪 褌芯, 泻邪泻 芯薪邪 锌褉械谢芯屑谢褟械褌褋褟 胁 薪械屑薪芯谐懈褏 胁邪卸薪褘褏 写谢褟 薪械谐芯 褋芯斜褘褌懈褟褏. "袙械褔械褉 褍 袣谢褝褉" 薪邪锌芯屑懈薪邪械褌 泻邪谢械泄写芯褋泻芯锌, 胁 泻芯褌芯褉芯屑 锌褉懈褔褍写谢懈胁芯 锌械褉械屑械褕邪谢懈褋褜 褔褍胁褋褌胁邪 褉邪褋褋泻邪蟹褔懈泻邪, 褋芯斜褘褌懈褟 袚褉邪卸写邪薪褋泻芯泄 胁芯泄薪褘, 褌懈锌懈褔械褋泻懈械 懈 邪褉褏械褌懈锌懈褔械褋泻懈械 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸懈; 胁 褝褌芯屑 泻芯褉芯褌泻芯屑 褉芯屑邪薪械 械褋褌褜 懈 褌芯褋泻邪 锌芯 褍褌褉邪褔械薪薪芯屑褍, 懈 褋胁械褌谢邪褟 谐褉褍褋褌褜, 懈 斜械蟹褘褋褏芯写薪芯褋褌褜, 懈 薪邪写械卸写邪, 懈 褋褌褉邪褏 褋屑械褉褌懈, 懈 谢褞斜芯胁褜.
袧械褋屑芯褌褉褟 薪邪 薪械谢懈薪械泄薪褍褞 屑邪薪械褉褍 锌芯胁械褋褌胁芯胁邪薪懈褟, 褝褌芯褌 褉芯屑邪薪 褋芯胁械褉褕械薪薪芯 褌芯褔薪芯 褟胁谢褟械褌褋褟 锌褉芯写芯谢卸械薪懈械屑 谢褍褔褕懈褏 褌褉邪写懈褑懈泄 泻谢邪褋褋懈褔械褋泻芯泄 褉褍褋褋泻芯泄 谢懈褌械褉邪褌褍褉褘. 袙褋锌芯屑薪懈谢懈褋褜 "袛械褌褋褌胁芯. 袨褌褉芯褔械褋褌胁芯. 挟薪芯褋褌褜" 孝芯谢褋褌芯谐芯, "袘褉邪褌褜褟 袣邪褉邪屑邪蟹芯胁褘" 袛芯褋褌芯械胁褋泻芯谐芯, "袞懈蟹薪褜 袗褉褋械薪褜械胁邪" 袘褍薪懈薪邪 懈 褉邪褋褋泻邪蟹褘 袧邪斜芯泻芯胁邪.
袧械褋屑芯褌褉褟 薪邪 薪械谢懈薪械泄薪褍褞 屑邪薪械褉褍 锌芯胁械褋褌胁芯胁邪薪懈褟, 褝褌芯褌 褉芯屑邪薪 褋芯胁械褉褕械薪薪芯 褌芯褔薪芯 褟胁谢褟械褌褋褟 锌褉芯写芯谢卸械薪懈械屑 谢褍褔褕懈褏 褌褉邪写懈褑懈泄 泻谢邪褋褋懈褔械褋泻芯泄 褉褍褋褋泻芯泄 谢懈褌械褉邪褌褍褉褘. 袙褋锌芯屑薪懈谢懈褋褜 "袛械褌褋褌胁芯. 袨褌褉芯褔械褋褌胁芯. 挟薪芯褋褌褜" 孝芯谢褋褌芯谐芯, "袘褉邪褌褜褟 袣邪褉邪屑邪蟹芯胁褘" 袛芯褋褌芯械胁褋泻芯谐芯, "袞懈蟹薪褜 袗褉褋械薪褜械胁邪" 袘褍薪懈薪邪 懈 褉邪褋褋泻邪蟹褘 袧邪斜芯泻芯胁邪.
November 3, 2021
First published in 1930, An Evening with Claire is about Kolya, a Russian immigrant in Paris meeting up with Claire, a woman he loves but has been separated from for the last ten years. Much of the book is his recollections of his childhood and life in Russia, so it鈥檚 about memory and loss, isolation and separation. The writing drifts and there鈥檚 some great descriptions, almost dreamlike at times.
January 16, 2021
Not for me, this modernist melange skips readably from the current story of (sort-of) unrequited love with the title character, and copious beats of memoir, with added yack about depression thrown in too. Alone, any one aspect of this might have made for a read that swept me along with it, but in being such a mish-mash with such an unedited, first draft feel, I was lost. One and a half stars.
December 22, 2024
Besides which, I cherished my inner life more than others did. I noticed that in general my attention was more often attracted by subjects that should not have concerned me, while it remained indifferent to so much that affected me directly. Usually much time would have to pass before I could understand the true sense of a particular event, and only after it had completely lost its influence on my susceptibility would it acquire the significance it ought to have had to begin with. First it would migrate to a distant, illusory region, where my imagination would delve but rarely, and where I would find, as it were, the geological strata of my private history. Images that rose up before me would silently crumble, and again I would have to begin everything from scratch; only after the experience of a severe shock and having descended into the depths of consciousness would I discover there the debris in which I had once lived, the ruins of cities I had left behind.
fascinating character study that didn鈥檛 have as much to do with claire as I had expected. I could relate to a lot of the protagonist鈥檚 inner thoughts, no matter how jumbled and all over the place they were. they take you on a mildly abstracted journey through family, adolescence, war, the landscape of a divided russia, and a lingering, obsessive first love. 4.5 stars.
fascinating character study that didn鈥檛 have as much to do with claire as I had expected. I could relate to a lot of the protagonist鈥檚 inner thoughts, no matter how jumbled and all over the place they were. they take you on a mildly abstracted journey through family, adolescence, war, the landscape of a divided russia, and a lingering, obsessive first love. 4.5 stars.
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